kilclief tower house

It was built as a manorial residence of the Bishops of Down, and is attributed to John Sely who became bishop in 1413, but was deprived of his See in 1441 for having lived in the castle with a married woman. If the date be correct, this would make Kilclief the oldest known tower-house in Ireland.

It was garrisoned for the Crown by Nicholas Fitzsymon and ten warders in 1601-2. The entrance to the four storey tower was on the east side, protected by two flanking towers which are joined by an arch beneath the parapet level. The ground floor is roofed by a stone vault.