rathcoffey castle

Remains of a castle built by the Wogans who came to Ireland with Henry 11. The castle is mentioned in 1454 when it was attacked by another branch of the Wogan family. It was fortified in 1641, but surrendered to General Mant in the following year, when Nicholas Wogan was outlawed for treason. The main surviving free-standing structure is nothing but the two-storey gatehouse leading to the enclosure in which the castle stood. It has a mullioned window in the east wall. It possibly dates to the 15th century, but has been much mutilated since. At the end of the 18th century Archibald Rowan Hamilton bought the castle, and incorporated a few parts of the original castle into the mansion which he built, but which is now in ruins.