What is recorded here

Carrigparson Castle vanished before anyone marked its stones, leaving only a ruined shadow on old survey maps and a chain of owners who passed it like a hot potato. Burke, Holcroft, O'Brien and Creagh all touched the same unknown bawn, yet no exact point remains for a visitor to touch back. The castle may still lie buried beneath farmland or river silt, waiting for someone to stop asking whether it exists and begin digging for the life that disappeared inside it.

The precise location of a castle and bawn (LI014-101----) in the townland of Carrigparson has not been identified. Westropp (1906-7, 93) recorded the following details about Ballywillin or Carrigparson Castle; '1583 Ballywillin C.[astle] held by W. Burke (Des. R., 37). 1619 Holcroft was granted C.[astle] of Carrigeparson or Ballenwily (Pat. R). 1624 Pardon to Anselm O'Brien for alienating C[astle]. of Carrigparson or Ballenwyly to W. Creagh in 1618 (lb.). He and his wife held the C[astle]. and bawn in 1624 (Inq. Chan. 23a). 1655 A ruined C.[astle] (D.S.A. 6 exp.).' Tower-house like castle standing W of Carrigparson Church (LI014-023001-) depicted on the 17th century Down Survey map of South Liberties Barony (Hib. Reg.) and on the parish map of Carrigparson (NLI MS. 718). The terrier of the Down Survey parish map recorded that Nicholas Healy of Tooreen and the late John Creagh of Limerick were owners of lands in Carrigparson which contained 'a Ruined Castle on the lands of Carrig I parson' (ibid.). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 2 December 2020

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.