What is recorded here

Bawn in Caherass is a lost castle enclosure on the rapids of the Maigue, recorded in 1654-56 with an orchard and eel-weir but never precisely located. FitzGerald hands held it through war and survey, suggesting a working estate where fish, fruit and fortification entangled. Its disappearance is not a gap but a transformation: the river took back what stone and fence could not keep.

The precise location of a castle (LI021-131----) and bawn in the townland of Caherass has not been identified. Westropp (1906-7, 167) recorded the following details about Caherass Castle; '1150 Eass Maige Fort (Book of Leinster) as being on the rapids of the Maigue. 1251 Cathyrass, held by J. Flandrens (B.B.L., xlvii. and lxi.). It belonged to the Earls of Kildare. 1599 Ger. FitzGerald died, seised of Caherasse C[astle]. (Inq. Chan., 9, 6i). 1636 Mau[rice]. FitzGerald held Cahirassa C[astle]. and vill., in the Manor of Croom, from the Earl of Kildare (Ib., 184). 1657 C[astle]. bawn, orchard, and eel-weir on the Maigue, late held by Garret FitzGerald (C.S., xxiv., p. 31; D.S.A., 42). 1666 Granted to Sir Edm. Ormsby. 1703 To Geo. Evans, jun. Now held by Sir David Roche, Bart.'. The 1654-56 Civil Survey of Limerick recorded that Gerratt FitzGerrald of Cahirassey, an Irish Papist, was the owner of Caherass which contained 'a Castle a Bawne and an Orchard with an Eele weare [LI021-195----]' (Simington 1938, 141). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 3 December 2020

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