What is recorded here

Knockmoney Castle stood square on a little mount in Castlefarm before J. Browne lost his life at Aherloe in 1582. The castle was already broken when Browne owned it, yet it reappeared in grants, maps and local names for decades after that loss. Its exact spot has slipped from the land, leaving behind a fort, a field and a name that still point toward the missing stone.

The precise location of Knockmoney Castle within the townland of Castlefarm has not been identified. Described by Westropp (1906-7, 185) as following; 'Knockmonye C[astle]. in Hospital Aney. 1582 J. Browne, slain in rebellion at Aherloe, owned a broken C[astle], built square, on top of a little mount called Knockmunihy (Des. R., 67b), Knockmonye C, Knockmonihy, 1584, or Cloghmonohy. Knockmono lay near Ballemonebeg (Inq. Exch., 29 Eliz., and 11 ; Hardiman Map, 50; Peyton, p. 18), granted to Fyton, 1587, and to N. Haward (Knockmonine C[astle]. in 1607 (Pat. R.)'. Depicted as a tower-like castle on the 1654-7 Down Survey map of Small Barony (NLI, MS 718). It has been suggested that the earthwork annotated 'Barnanenagh Fort' (LI032-151----) on the OS 6-inch map may be the site of 'Knockmonihy Castle' (LI032-148----) (pers. comm. Bosco Ryan). Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 9 March 2020

Knockmoney Castle in Castlefarm was held by John Browne in 1582, who was slain during the Rebellions of the time. It is remembered as a site of conflict during the turbulent late 16th-century struggles in Ireland.

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