What is recorded here

Castle Elton vanished before it could be measured, leaving only a ruin and three cabins scattered across Limerick soil. Fitton, Haward and Haly passed it like a hot stone, each claiming what the last forgot or lost. The Down Survey drew a tower that may never have stood where the line was drawn. A castle unclassified is not a gap in knowledge; it is a refusal to be known.

The precise location of a castle in the townland of Elton has not been identified. Westropp (106-7, 181) recorded the following details about Elton; 'Elltown C[astle]. granted to Sir E. Fitton (Fi. 5032), and held by him 1606 (Inq. Exch., 9). 1607 Grant to N. Haward (Pat. R.). 1621 Held by W. Haly with Ballinlyng or Lillingstown (Inq. Chan., 8, 240, 244). 1653 Leased to Quartermaster J. Chinnery (Hartwell Acct. Book). Ruinous C[astle]., late of N. Haly (C.S., xxxi., p. 9). The 1654-56 Civil Survey of Limerick recorded that Nicholas Haly of Towreene, an Irish Papist, was the owner of Elton and Brittas which contained 'a Ruinous Castle, three Cabbins & Mill Seat [LI040-300----] on it' (Simington 1938, 99). A tower house like castle is depicted on the 1654-7 Down Survey map of Small County Barony (Hib. Reg.). The terrier of the Down Survey map of Any Parish recorded that on the 'Lands of Ellton & Brittas Standes a Castle' (NLI, MS 718). See attached Down Survey map of Small County Barony Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 24 May 2021

Built or held by Sir E. Fitton, as recorded in historical surveys of the area. Its importance lies in its mention in early castle listings, indicating a presence of fortified structures in the Elton region during the medieval period.

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