Medieval Roebuck Castle Rediscovered Inside UCD Building

University College Dublin professor Tadhg O’Keeffe announced that a medieval Roebuck Castle, thought lost for centuries, still survives beneath a Victorian‑era building on the campus. By studying 18th‑century watercolors and inspecting the structure, O’Keeffe found that 70‑80 % of the original 13th‑century castle remains hidden under Victorian plaster. Thick walls, a stone vault, an arched roof, and splayed windows confirm the medieval origin. The castle’s documented owners, including a chief justice and King James II, give it a rare historical record. O’Keeffe suggests that other presumed‑lost Irish castles may likewise be concealed within later buildings, urging a re‑examination of the country’s architectural heritage.