Castle

The precise location of the Castle of Courteroddery in the townland of Abbeyfarm has not been identified. Westropp (1906-7, 190-1) recorded the following details about Courtneruddery; '1579 The White Knight's C[astle], manor and C[astle]. of Courteroddery, near Kilmallock, granted to T. Burgeate, with a mill, property of John oge FitzGibbon, the White Knight. 1586 C[astle]. named by Peyton (p. 23). 1587 Granted to G. Beston and Lau. Bostock (Carew, i., p. 450). 1590 Grant to Edm. FitzGibbon, the White Knight, of the site of the C[astle]. of Court Rudderye, near Kilmallock, "surrounded with a stone wall, the Court being ruinous," and the water-mill (Fi. 5517). 1617 Maur. Hurley, of Knocklong, settled the ruined C[astle]. of Court Inruddery, water-mill, little garden called Garrenruddery, &c. (Inq. Chan., Car. I., 189). 1655 Courtneruddery, an old ruinous C[astle], and waste mill [LI047-022068-] on the river Gleane outside the town walls [LI047-022006-], having the river to the west and the (Dominican) Abbey land [LI047-022018-] to south (C.S., p. 52)'. The 1659 Civil Survey of Limerick recorded that 'Sir Morrish Hurly of Knockelong' was the owner of 'An old ruinous Castle called CourtenRuddery a waste Mill seate called Mullena Courtye and severall gardens mearing with ye river Gleene West; the Abby land South, the garden of John Fox east and ye meddow plott of Richard Creagh North' (Simington 1938, 194). Castellated building depicted on a map of Kilmallock town dating from c. 1600 (TCD, MS 1209/62). On this map a castle is depicted standing on the E bank of the River Loobagh opposite Kilmallock Mill (LI047-022067-) and a short distance S of a second watermill (LI047-022068-) also standing on the E bank of the river. This castle may have been known as 'Courtneruddery' described in the Urban Survey (Bradley 1989, 166) as following; 'The White Knights" Castle and manor with a stone wall. Situated on the river Gleane outside the walls with the river on the west and Abbey land (Dom.) south (Westropp 1906-7, 190-1). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 23 August 2021

The Castle of Courteroddery, mentioned in 1579 as "The White Knight's Castle," was likely held by a local Gaelic lord or Anglo-Norman knight in the late 16th century. It is remembered as an example of early modern frontier fortifications in the region, though its exact location and builder remain unidentified.