On the east end of the town of Dromore is this magnificent example of Motte-and-Bailey, the finest one of all Ulster.
It was built towards the end of the 13th century during the Anglo-Norman conquest of the province. It was meant as a permanent defence outpost. The mound has a diameter of about 60 metres at the base and is about 10 metres high, with a surrounding deep ditch and a massive outer bank. The bank and ditch were, at those times, an effective way of improving the defence of the castle. The same deep ditch would separate the mound from the bailey, which is to the south-southwest (200°) from the motte and has an almost perfect square shape, about 30 metres each side. Another ditch was dug around the bailey. The structures in the bailey and on the motte were made of timber and this explains why nothing of them remains today.
King John of England stayed here for a short time in 1210 during his expedition to Ireland to reaffirm his power.
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