Killeen Gate: A Gate Lodge at Dunsany Castle in Co. Meath

Built c.1840 in the form of a keep, this lodge is one of many impressive buildings at Dunsany Castle

Located on Killeen Road / L2208 the gate lodge is an imposing sight and cannot be missed. The exact location is marked on The Irish Antiquarian Historic Sites Map.

This imposing gate lodge is one of a number of interesting gate lodges and buildings associated with Dunsany Castle in Co. Meath, home to the Plunkett family from medieval times. Referred to as the Killeen gate (due to its proximity to the neighboring demesne of Killeen Castle, also a medieval holding of the Plunkett family, now home to a Jack Nicklaus designed golf course) was constructed around 1840, replacing an older gate lodge.

Probably designed by the architect James Shiel, it was constructed under the instruction of the 14th baron Edward Wadding Plunkett who carried out extensive remodeling and improvements to the estate. The castellated square tower keep-like structure appears to have two storeys from the road, but as the pictures show, on the other side of the gate it has a three-story elevation.

Now uninhabited, the gate lodge remains in reasonable exterior condition. There are a number of interesting features to note, not least the Plunkett coat of arms and motto above the tudor arch; 'Festina Lente' meaning 'diligently, but not hurriedly', as well as numerous gun loops.

Plunkett coat of arms and motto; 'Festina Lente' meaning 'diligently, but not hurriedly'

The metalwork of the gates remains in good order (note the double-headed axe design at the top of the main gate) although the metalwork which would have originally been in place above the main carriage gate, closing off the gap between the top of the gate and the arch, has disappeared (note that it remains above the pedestrian gate).

Note the axe design at the top of the gate.

Turner Hammersmith Works Dublin: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Turner_(iron-founder) The road beyond the gate has all but vanished.

The front elevation of the lodge presenting onto the road. Solid and imposing, it appears to be a two-storey building.

Peeking through the locked gates to see the other side of the lodge, you will notice that it presents a three-storey elevation. Uninhabited for many years the windows are broken and boarded up. Structurally the building seems to be in good shape.

This gate lodge certainly delivers on its purpose, it is an impressive sight to passersby. Other gate lodges at Dunsany Castle are also very impressive and are built in a variety of styles.

The purpose of gate lodges evolved over time. Initially, in the 1700s when large landowners began constructing them, they played a practical role. Constructed adjacent to the main road they secured the entrance to the avenue leading to the "big house", dealing with both unwanted callers and those on business below the concerns of the family, deliveries and the like. As they were located adjacent to the main public road they were the first sight visitors to the house would see, and for passersby the gate lodge was very much the "public face" of the estate. As the decades passed and security concerns lapsed, these factors rose to the fore and the gate lodges became status symbols reflecting the style, taste, and wealth of the estate owner. The elaborate design of this gate lodge (and of the other entrances to Dunsany Castle, more on these another time) was certainly born of a desire to impress passersby and visitors to the estate. The gun loops were never intended to be used!

The photographs accompanying this piece were taken in May 2021.

Sources and further reading:

Baker, Christine. The Archaeology of Killeen Castle, Co. Meath. Wordwell, 2009.

Casey, Christine, and Alistair John Rowan. 'The Buildings of Ireland: North Leinster'. Penguin, 1993.

Dean, J. The Gate Lodges of Leinster: A Gazetteer. Wordwell Books, 2016.

https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/.../dunsany-castle...