What is recorded here

Barbavilla Demesne is a Westmeath castle whose exact location is no longer visible. It appeared on a 1657 survey, stood near a ringfort, and belonged to John Lutterell. The castle vanished from later maps, leaving behind a gap where stone should have been.

The precise location of 'Rinchane Castle' within the townland of Ranaghan or Barbavilla Demesne has not been identified. Rinechan (Ranaghan) Castle is depicted on the 1657 Down Survey map of Fore Barony and St. Fechins parish map (NLI MS 723-4) map but not marked on any edition of the OS 6-inch map. The terrier of this parish map recorded that this castle was on the lands of John Lutterell who is listed as an 'Irish papist'. The SMR office suggested that Barbavilla House was built on the site of the medieval castle but no evidence of any medieval castle was identified by the ASI at this location. The townland of Barbavilla Demesne formed part of Ranaghan townland in the medieval period. The cartographic evidence would suggest that this castle was located in the W quadrant of the present townland of Ranaghan rather than Barbavilla Demesne. The 'Fortfield' depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map containing the remains of a ringfort (WM008-049----) is located in the same general area where the castle is depicted on the Down Survey map. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 3 October 2016

Rinchane (Ranaghan) Castle was likely built in the late medieval period, possibly by a local Gaelic or Anglo-Norman lord in the Fore Barony area. It is remembered primarily through its depiction on the 1657 Down Survey, which provides a rare historical record of its existence in the Barbavilla Demesne region.

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