152 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



The remains of extern square towers, of no great altitude, are 

 yet to be seen, on the angles of what constituted a courtyard of quad- 

 rangular shape. This bawn extended in front of the entrance door 

 to the old mansion. "Walls yet standing in a parallel direction with 

 the gables of the old house, communicated between the latter and the 

 extern towers. On the outer angles of both these towers, may yet be 

 seen chimneys, characteristic of the style which prevails in the 

 standing gable. These towers are now used as farm-offices ; ranges 

 of houses extending in a line between them. Without, the inner 

 court appears to have been a larger quadrangular bawn, which must 

 have been used for the out-offices pertaining to the castle. The walls 

 which enclosed this bawn have not entirely disappeared ; and even 

 yet remain in a well-preserved state, on one side of the quadrangle. 

 There appears to have been only one large gateway entrance to this 

 bawn, which was towards the east, and nearly opposite the front of 

 the old mansion, the rere view of which is only presented in the pre- 

 ceding sketch. It is remarked, regarding all tracts of land in the 

 immediate neighbourhood of old castles, the field behind the mansion 

 far surpasses all others in the townsland for riches and fertility of 

 soil. This is accounted for, because it is supposed that cattle were 

 frequently congregated there to be fed, milked, or perhaps placed 

 under more secure protection from the raids of robbers. 



Mr. Patrick Moore, already mentioned, informed the writer, many 

 years since, that a sort of road or avenue formerly wound through the 

 glen, in a north-eastern direction. This road led towards Stradbally, 

 which village is about two miles distant from the Castle of Bally - 

 macldock. The avenue was thickly planted with ancient yew-trees. 

 These no longer remain, excepting a pair of yew-trees growing within 

 the enclosure of the courtyard ; now the sole representatives of that 

 sombre forest, which surrounded or opened before the old mansion. 

 Other particulars of curious interest were derived from tradition, 

 which my informant took great pleasure in communicating. These 

 have now escaped my memory altogether, or have left such faint 

 recollections behind, as to prevent my hazarding statements, with any 

 great pretensions to accuracy. 



The late Dr. John O'Donovan informed me, that Ballymaddock 

 must be anglicised into " the town or townsland of Haddock." This 

 name is now usually written Haddocks, or Maddox ; and some repre- 

 sentatives of the family are yet found in various parts of the Queen's 

 County. Hence, we may suppose, that this townsland was held by 

 possessors of this name, under the O'Moores of Leix, whose Castle of 

 Dunamase was only a mile and a half distant. The history of Bally- 

 maddock is consequently involved in all the changes of fortune that 

 befel the various Chiefs or occupants of Leix territory, both of Irish 

 and English origin, until its lands became vested in the Cosbys, who 

 yet hold possession under their original grant. 



Not far from Ballymaddock Castle, a fine old rath may yet be 



