Site of Castle, Cullentra, Co. Wexford
In the valley of a small stream that flows northward into the River Slaney, you'll find the remnants of what was once a castle at Cullentra, County Wexford.
Site of Castle, Cullentra, Co. Wexford
The site, marked on Ordnance Survey maps from 1839 and 1941, sits on the eastern bank of the stream, roughly 150 metres south of where it meets the Slaney. Though called a castle, this structure was likely a 17th-century dwelling rather than a defensive tower house, first recorded in 1666 when it was granted to Philip Hore, having previously belonged to the Roche family of nearby Drinagh.
Archaeological investigations in 2000 revealed tantalising fragments of the original building. An intensive survey uncovered portions of the southern and eastern walls; the southern section measuring 1.5 metres long and half a metre high, whilst the eastern wall stretched 2.7 metres and stood 1.5 metres tall. These stone remnants offer a glimpse into the footprint of what was once a substantial residence. Further archaeological testing conducted about 100 metres south of the site yielded no additional materials related to the structure, suggesting the building’s remains are confined to a relatively small area.
Today, these weathered walls stand as quiet witnesses to centuries of Irish history, from the tumultuous 1600s through to the present day. The site represents a common pattern in Irish rural architecture, where grand names often belied more modest realities; many structures called castles were actually fortified houses or manor homes that served as comfortable residences for landed families rather than military strongholds.





