Bawn, Kilcloggan, Co. Wexford
At the base of a gentle south-facing slope in Kilcloggan, County Wexford, stands a fascinating remnant of Ireland's fortified past.
Bawn, Kilcloggan, Co. Wexford
This bawn fragment, which once formed part of a defensive enclosure, extends northeast from the northern corner of an associated tower house. The surviving section includes a particularly interesting architectural feature: the stone jamb of what was once a gateway, complete with three short bar-holes that would have secured heavy wooden doors or metal bars to protect the entrance.
Bawns were essential defensive structures in medieval and early modern Ireland, typically consisting of high stone walls that enclosed a courtyard area around a tower house or castle. They provided a secure space for livestock during raids and offered an additional line of defence for the inhabitants. The Kilcloggan example demonstrates the typical construction method of these fortifications, with its gateway positioning suggesting it controlled access between the protected inner courtyard and the outside world.
The preservation of the gateway jamb with its bar-holes offers valuable insight into the security measures employed during this period. These holes would have held thick wooden beams or iron bars that could be slid across the gateway opening, creating a formidable barrier against unwanted visitors. The fact that this fragment survives alongside the tower house helps archaeologists and historians understand how these defensive complexes functioned as integrated systems, rather than isolated structures.





