Bawn, Taylorstown, Co. Wexford
The remnants of Taylorstown's bawn wall tell a story of defensive architecture typical of medieval Ireland.
Bawn, Taylorstown, Co. Wexford
This fortification sits on the eastern slope of the Owenduff river valley, with the stream flowing approximately 250 metres below. The surviving structure includes a 16-metre section of wall that extends southeast from the tower house, though notably, the two structures were built separately rather than bonded together. This wall terminates at what remains of a circular tower, a common feature in Irish bawn design that would have served as both a watchtower and defensive position.
Archaeological evidence suggests the bawn may have been more extensive than what survives today. A possible 20-metre section of wall appears to have run southwest from the circular tower, its ghostly outline now preserved in a road bank that cuts northeast to southwest through the site. When archaeologist Y. Whitty monitored the installation of a water pipe beneath the road in 2000, the excavation revealed no additional materials or structures related to the bawn, suggesting that modern development may have erased other traces of the fortification.
These bawn walls would have originally enclosed a courtyard around the tower house, creating a fortified compound where cattle could be protected and daily life could continue even during times of conflict. The separate construction of the wall and tower house indicates they may have been built at different times, perhaps as the needs of the inhabitants changed or as resources became available. Today, these fragments offer visitors a tangible connection to the defensive concerns and building practices of medieval County Wexford.





