Animal bones, medieval pottery, a mysterious circular kiln and a large cesspit: work at Ardee Castle in County Louth has revealed part of the history buried beneath the castle. Some of the discoveries date back to the 12th and 13th centuries, making them older than the medieval building still standing today.
The archaeological excavations are being carried out alongside a major restoration project at Ardee Castle. Ultimately, the monument is set to become far more accessible to visitors, including the opportunity to explore its four levels.
Archaeological discoveries beneath Ardee Castle
Excavations reveal everyday life in the Middle Ages
Archaeologists expected to find traces of the past while working around such an ancient monument. But the investigations undertaken at Ardee Castle appear to be particularly rich.
The excavations are being led by archaeologist Franc Myles of Archaeology and Built Heritage Ltd. According to him, new evidence is emerging almost daily as the site’s various layers are uncovered.
More intriguingly, some of the remains are older than the castle itself.
Archaeologists have identified evidence of activity dating to the 12th and 13th centuries, offering a better understanding of what Ardee may have looked like during the early centuries of its medieval development.
A centuries-old pit filled with bones
Remains of cattle and pigs were found
One of the oldest discoveries is an ancient rubbish pit dug before the construction of the present castle.
Its contents form a remarkable little time capsule.
Among the finds, archaeologists recovered numerous cattle and pig bones bearing cut marks, along with fragments of medieval pottery.
Stone chippings, mortar and fragments of slate were also found in the pit.
For the researchers, these remains may relate to a particularly early phase in Ardee’s urban history. The food remains offer a very tangible glimpse of the daily lives of the people who lived here around eight centuries ago.
A mysterious medieval kiln discovered nearby
It may have been used to build the castle
A few steps from this pit, archaeologists made another intriguing discovery: a large circular medieval structure.
When it first emerged, the team believed they had uncovered an old well. But continued excavation revealed the presence of two flues, leading the researchers to revise their interpretation.
It appears, in fact, to be an old kiln.
Its exact use has not yet been determined. One hypothesis put forward by Franc Myles is particularly interesting: the kiln may have been used to produce lime for making mortar.
If this hypothesis is confirmed, the structure could provide new information about the techniques and materials used in the castle’s construction.
A huge cesspit beneath a tower
Archaeologists also uncover the less glamorous aspects of the Middle Ages
Archaeology does not reveal only weapons, jewellery or mysterious ancient objects. It also documents much more ordinary aspects of everyday life.
And Ardee Castle provides a particularly striking example.
The largest structure uncovered during the excavations is a large stone-built cesspit, located beneath the castle’s south-east tower.
Human waste was once discharged into it through a substantial chute built directly into the wall of the building.
The researchers even believe that the original installation proved too small and had to be replaced by a larger structure.
However unglamorous it may be, this discovery is extremely useful to archaeologists. The pit cuts through several older layers of the site, making it possible to establish the relative chronology of the various features uncovered around the castle.
Remains hidden beneath a 19th-century house
Removing a floor led to the discoveries
A large part of the remains was not directly beneath the castle, but under the Judges’ Chambers, an early 19th-century building constructed right beside it.
This house was once used by judges to put on and remove their robes before and after court hearings.
An extension was added in the early 20th century. It was while removing the floor in this part of the building, as part of the current works, that archaeologists were able to access the older levels.
They then began uncovering the various structures now under study.
An astonishing layering of periods that perfectly sums up the site’s significance: beneath a 20th-century building adjoining a 19th-century house, traces of everyday life dating back to the Middle Ages were still present.
Ardee Castle, one of Ireland’s great medieval castles
An impressive tower house in the heart of County Louth
Ardee Castle stands on Castle Street, in the heart of the town of Ardee in County Louth.
Also historically known as St Leger’s Castle, the present building is generally associated with the 14th and 15th centuries. Earlier structures did, however, exist on the site: heritage sources from Louth County Council refer in particular to an earlier building founded by Roger Pipard in 1207.
The monument is particularly notable for its size. Louth County Council describes it as the largest surviving fortified medieval tower house in Ireland.
Its use has changed considerably over the centuries. The castle was notably associated with local administration and justice before becoming the subject of a major conservation programme today.
Ardee Castle is currently undergoing restoration
A major project began in 2026
The archaeological discoveries were made as part of a far broader project intended to bring new life to the monument.
In January 2026, Louth County Council signed a contract with Francis Haughey Construction Ireland Limited to undertake its restoration.
The programme covers the castle itself, as well as the former Bridewell building, the courtyard and several adjoining spaces.
Structural conservation and interior restoration works are planned, while certain modern additions are to be removed in order to make the monument’s historical evolution easier to read.
The project also forms part of the broader Ardee 2040 programme, intended to revitalise the town and enhance its appeal.
The castle’s four storeys are set to become accessible
Ardee Castle should become far more rewarding to visit
This is probably the most interesting part of the project for future visitors.
The restoration will significantly improve access to the monument and allow the public to move through all four levels of Ardee Castle.
A new system, including a staircase and lift, is to be installed at the rear of the buildings to make the different floors accessible without substantially altering the historic structure of the tower house.
The stated aim is to turn the castle into a genuine heritage attraction in the heart of Ardee, while ensuring its long-term conservation.
When the restoration contract was signed in January 2026, the projected duration of the works was around 18 months, with work due to begin in early spring.
What will happen to the archaeological discoveries?
The excavations are intended to reconstruct the site’s history
The work is still far from complete.
Once the excavations have been completed, archaeologists will need to analyse the records, photographs, structures and objects uncovered in order to establish a more precise chronology of the site.
The large circular kiln remains, in particular, an enigma. Its possible use in mortar production has yet to be confirmed.
The research could therefore help improve understanding not only of the construction of Ardee Castle, but also of everyday life in this small Irish town several centuries before the castle took its present form.
Admission prices
How much does it cost to visit Ardee Castle?
Ardee Castle is currently undergoing a major restoration project and does not yet operate as a conventional visitor attraction allowing access to all four levels.
No prices for the future visitor experience have yet been announced by Louth County Council.
Prices will need to be checked once the full reopening and arrangements for access to the monument have been officially announced.
Opening times
When will it be possible to visit Ardee Castle?
Regeneration works began in 2026. When the contract was signed in January, Louth County Council announced that the works were expected to last 18 months and were due to begin in early spring 2026.
No definitive date for full public opening or visiting hours has yet been announced.
It is therefore advisable to check information from Louth County Council before specifically planning an interior visit to the castle.
Source: Louth County Council, results of the Ardee Castle archaeological excavations published on 18 August 2026 and official documentation for the regeneration project.
