Dunnamona is a motte-and-bailey and National Monument in County Westmeath, Ireland.[2]

Dunnamona
Dún na Móna
Dunnamona is located in Ireland
Dunnamona
Shown within Ireland
LocationDunnamona, Drumraney,
County Westmeath, Ireland
RegionTethbae
Coordinates53°29′58″N 7°47′01″W / 53.499548°N 7.783629°W / 53.499548; -7.783629
Typemotte
Diameter36 m (118 ft)
Height9 metres (30 ft)
History
BuilderDillon family
Materialearth
Founded12th century
PeriodsNorman Ireland
CulturesCambro-Norman, Old English
Site notes
Public accessyes
Official nameDunnamona
Reference no.560[1]

Location

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Dunnamona motte is located next to a tributary of the Owenacharra River, 4.7 km (2.9 mi) east of Tubberclare.[3]

History and archaeology

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Motte-and-bailey castles were a primitive type of castle built by the Norman invasion, a mound of earth topped by a wooden palisade. This region, known as Tethbae, was allotted to the Dillon family, descendants of Sir Henry de Leon (c. 1176 – 1244). They built the motte at Dunnamona ("hillfort of peat") as well as another at Drumraney, later abandoning the mottes for permanent stone castles.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "National Monuments of County Westmeath in State Care" (PDF). heritageireland.ie. National Monument Service. p. 1. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Buildings and Settlements - Drumraney Heritage".
  3. ^ "Geograph:: Motte at Dunnamona, Co. Westmeath (C) Kieran Campbell".
  4. ^ "Message Boards".