What is recorded here

Castle, unclassified in Hayestown Great stood in County Wexford, Ireland, built by the Hays of Hillcastle. Mathew Hay owned 240 acres there in 1641, while Robert Hay held 153 acres nearby. The castle and three cabins appeared on the Down Survey map of Rathaspick parish, but the main structure no longer stands. Its stones may have been carried into Hayestown House, turning a lost fortress into the bones of a newer home.

This castle is thought to have been built by the Hays of Hillcastle (WX048-023001-). Its position is not known precisely, but the stones are said to have been used in building Hayestown House (Jeffrey 1979, 19). According to the Book of Survey and Distribution Mathew Hay owned 240 acres at Hayestown Great in 1641, and Robert Hay owned 153 acres at Hayestown Little (Simington 1953, 299). A castle and three cabins are marked on the Down Survey map (1655-8) in NLI (ms 725, microfilm P 7384, N 6380) of Rathaspick parish at Hayestown Great. See the attached view from the Down Survey parish map (N at top) reproduced courtesy of the National Library of Ireland (Ms 725). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 27 May, 2013

Built by the Hays of Hillcastle, likely in the late medieval period, this castle is remembered for its historical association with the Hay family and its stones later being reused in the construction of Hayestown House.

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