Castle

The precise location of Ardagh Castle has not been identified, it is not certain if there was a castle in the borough town of Ardagh. The Urban Survey of Limerick recorded the following about Ardagh Castle; 'The inquisition of 1298-9 taken on the death of Thomas FitzMaurice suggests that Ardagh belonged to the Desmond FitzGeralds (Sweetman 1875-86, iv, 256-7) but Westropp suggests that it was a manor of the bishops of Limerick. Westropp’s view is supported by the fact that Ardagh was claimed by the diocese of Limerick in 1201, a claim which would back up the suggestion made above that it was a pre-Norman church site (MacCaffrey 1907, 11-12). As a manor it is likely that there was a castle here but its site is unknown unless it can be identified with the ringfort known as Reerasta South (LI028-102----), and that this is in fact the remains of an Anglo-Norman ringwork' (Bradley et. al. 1989, vol. 1, 48-9). The presence of a castle in Ardagh (LI028-103001-) is ‘doubtful’ according to Westropp (1906-7, 246-7) though it was a manorial centre here from the 13th century (ibid.). Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 20 August 2012