SWORDS CASTLE

Map Reference: O182470

The castle was built about 1200 as an episcopal manor. The entrance is through a large gatehouse which was originally vaulted. The two-storey building on the left has two stairways ansd some good vaulted rooms at the ground floor. There are remains of a large brick oven. To the right of the gatehouse is a large rectangular hall. The castle has a large polygonal bawn with rectangular corners towers and good sections of allure and crenellations. The large tower at the north corner is three storeys high. It is vaulted above the ground floor and in the east wall is a garderobe with latrine-chute. There is a spiral stairway in the SW corner