O'Hanlox — Antiquities in Killennij and Kinteale Parishes. 151 



Charles O'Dernpsey, who was frequently obliged to take refuge in the 

 Castle. There, or in some out-offices attached, this notorious bandit 

 was obliged to conceal himself from the officers of justice. It was 

 stated, as well as the writer can now recollect, that Fitzgerald pos- 

 sessed such power and influence with certain officers of the law, 

 that these were believed to have connived sometimes at Cohir's es- 

 cape, even when fully aware of the exact place in which he was to 

 be found.* 



Before the castle finally went to ruin, it was tenanted by a Mr. 

 Michael Dolan, about the beginning of the present century. Having 

 become quite ruinous, the old building was in part pulled down, and 

 the materials were used in the construction of a dwelling-house, 

 within the courtyard or bawn of the former castle. A gable, and a 

 portion of the side-wall, are now the only remains of what the country 

 people call " Squire "Weaver's House." The walls are of great thick- 

 ness ; and from joist-holes in the interior, the castle appears to have 

 only consisted of two stories. In the interior may be seen one of the 

 old open chimneys, running up the middle of the gable-wall, until it 

 terminates in a ruinous and threatening pile of three distinct square 

 flues, angularly joining each other. This gable appears on the out- 

 side to rest on a very insecure foundation — the loamy earth having 

 been thence removed for manure, within the memory of the writer, f 

 Portions of the gable have given way on the interior, a considerable 

 part having fallen during the severe winter storm of 1852. Hence, 

 it had been considered advisable to pull clown the overhanging portion 

 of the ruins to a more secure level ; but this attempt, when made, 

 had been attended with much danger to a man employed for the pur- 

 pose. As this gable encloses out-offices, in part, and rises imme- 

 diately over a passage or gate, leading to the field represented in the 

 foreground of a sketch presented it was feared that injury to life 

 or property might occur, by its suddenly and unexpectedly giving 

 way. However, the danger to be incurred by its demolition almost 

 equally counterbalances that to be apprehended from its casual fall. 

 In some of the courses of masonry may be seen a sort of yellow clay, 

 which had been used for cement, although an excellent lime-mortar 

 for the most part predominates throughout the building. 



* The ancestors of Mr. Patrick Moore had lived in the neighbourhood of Bally- 

 maddock, for generations before his own time ; and the farmer alluded to was 

 accustomed to state, that he was a lineal descendant of the O'Moores, the Chieftains 

 of Dunamase. Besides a fund of classical and traditionary knowledge which he 

 possessed, this senior was a correct and learned Irish scholar and historian. 



f It is to be regretted, that some effort would not be made, to secure this por- 

 tion of the ruins of Ballymaddock Castle. A very trifling outlay, in the matter of 

 pointing the walls with mortar, and under-pinning the foundation with solid mason 

 work, should suffice to preserve the gable, for many years to come. The gable in 

 question forms the boundary between the farms of neighbouring tenants. The 

 head landlord is Robert Cosby, Esq., D. L., Stradbally Hall. 



