Castle in Drakeland Lower

According to the OS Letters (1839) this castle is, 'supposed to have belonged to the Grace family' (O'Flanagan ed. 1930, vol. 2, 83 (27)). The Down Survey (1655-6) barony map of ‘The Liberties of the Citty of Kilkenny’ and parish map of ‘St Patricks Parish’ (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin), depicts a substantial castle in the E portion of the townland near the N townland boundary. The terrier accompanying the parish map notes, ‘In Drackland is a Castle well repaired a strong Bawn and a good mill’. The proprietors in 1640 are listed as ‘David & Jo. Rooth’. According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 216-17), ‘With portion of the other confiscated possessions of St. John’s Abbey, Drackisland, or Drakeland, was handed over by Henry VIII to the Corporation of Kilkenny. The townland was afterwards leased to members of the Rothe family…In 1628 David Rothe fitz Robert paid £9 rent, to the Corporation for his share of the townland, and John Rothe fitz Edward paid £3 for his own share. In 1653 Drakeland was forfeited by David Rothe (grandson of David Rothe fitz Robert) and by the above John Rothe fitz Edward’. Carrigan (ibid. 217) writes that, ‘Its walls remained perfect till about 1880, when the western side of the building collapsed. Portion of the ruin was blown down later on, in the great storm of Feb. 26th, 1903. Only the east wall and pieces of the other walls now remain. It was a small castle and by no means strong, the walls being only about 3ft. [0.9m] thick’. Carrigan’s photograph accompanying his description, taken from the SW, shows the remaining portion of the tower house with a large mound of collapsed rubble in the foreground. This three-storey tower house (Wth c. 5.5m) survives as described by Carrigan (Salter 2004, 79). See attached extract from the Down Survey (1655-6) barony map of ‘The Liberties of the Citty of Kilkenny’ (Hib. Reg., courtesy of Trinity College Dublin) Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 22 September 2020