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Medieval Castle Found Hidden Inside University Building
Confirmed
In Short: A researcher at University College Dublin has discovered that parts of a medieval castle are preserved within a modern building on campus.
Professor Tadhg O'Keeffe, a specialist in medieval architectural history at UCD School of Archaeology, revealed that the walls of the old Roebuck Castle are still intact inside the present Roebuck Castle building.
The Norman castle, believed to have been demolished in the 17th century, was thought to have been cleared away when the current structure was built about 150 years ago.
According to Prof O'Keeffe, the medieval features of the old castle are hidden under plaster, and his findings are published in Archaeology Ireland magazine.
The discovery of the castle’s hidden walls provides valuable insights into its construction and positioning, which experts describe as highly technical and unique.
What's confirmed
- Professor Tadhg O'Keeffe, a specialist in medieval architectural history at UCD School of Archaeology, revealed that the walls of the old Roebuck Castle are still intact inside the present Roebuck Castle building.
- The Norman castle, believed to have been demolished in the 17th century, was thought to have been cleared away when the current structure was built about 150 years ago.
- According to Prof O'Keeffe, the medieval features of the old castle are hidden under plaster, and his findings are published in Archaeology Ireland magazine.
- The discovery of the castle’s hidden walls provides valuable insights into its construction and positioning, which experts describe as highly technical and unique.
What's still developing
- The extensive mechanical discoveries at the site help experts understand its construction and positioning, which they called highly technical and unlike any other ever found.
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- Many medieval castles were demolished in the 17th century with their stonework being recycled for more modern premises. It was assumed that the Norman castle at Roebuck met a similar fate until Prof O'Keeffe's latest research. "UCD can now claim to have the oldest standing building on any university campus in Ireland," Prof O'Keeffe said. Prof O'Keeffe is confident that the oldest part of the castle dates back to the early 13th century. "It is wonderful to be able to welcome back Roebuck’s medieval castle, and to know that it won’t get lost again." © RTÉ 2026.
- A researcher at UCD has found one of Dublin's "lost" medieval castles "hiding in plain sight" on the university's Belfield campus.
- King James II of England was reputed to have lived in the castle in 1689 after he was deemed to have forfeited the throne.
- "Beranger’s depictions of the ruined castle are really fascinating," Prof O'Keeffe said.
- "He captured the basic form of the building, as you would expect, but thankfully he also captured some of those small details which are the clues needed to work out the building’s structural history." Many medieval castles were demolished in the 17th century with their stonework being recycled for more modern premises.