Cusack - Killeen Castle

Killeen Castle

Geoffrey de Cusack Lord of Killeen having occupied his lands in 1172 he built his castle. Over the doorway of Killeen Castle (see Killeen Castle Co.Meath) the date of the building is given as 1181.

An early description of Killeen Castle reads-

The date is 1 August - the feast of St. Peter's Chains - As we approach the castle we are faced by four tall battlemented towers with five storeys of slit openings linking the curtain walls of the building. The castle is set on a slight mound. We enter by a steep wooden stairway, and find ourselves, having passed through the considerable thickness of the wall from the narrow doorway, in the Great Hall on the first floor. Rushes cover the stone flags, and besides the usual furniture, such as a trestle-table, benches and the straight-backed, carved, oaken armchair of the Lord of the Manor, we note on our left a heavy green and white curtain covering one wall of the Hall. Opposite us with its sloping hood is the fireplave with logs burning in the grate. The right hand wall is hung with the Lord's war harness, his morion (helmet), hunting trophies and a feathered lure used in falconry. There is a costly piece with a perch and gilt borders. On top of an oaken chest is the Lord's great seal and some other pieces of plain silver. Opening off the Great Hall are spiral staircases leading to mezzanine rooms in the towers, bedrooms, closets and gardrobrs, and also a chapel. In the Much (i.e. Great) Chamber over the Great Hall is the large bed of my Lord and Lady with its long red costereys.

A much later description reads-

The present picturesque turreted pile retains two of the original square 12th centuey towers to the north of the building. The castle was built on a mound and the porch, an addition, masks the mound. However on entering one has to climb a staircase to reach the entrance hall proper at the ground level of the original castle.