Castle

Horetown was exchanged by Philip de Hore for Polehore on the River Slaney with the Furlong family in 1310-11 (Hore 1900-11, vol. 1, 30 fn; vol. 5, 99 fn), and Furlongs are associated with Horetown ever since. According to the Civil Survey (1654-6) a ‘faire castle’ at Great Horetown and 400 acres were owned by James Furlong in 1640, together with a total of 680 acres in Haresmead, Raheenduff, Shanowle, Cullenstown and the unknown Ballinloskran, which is now probably Tottenham Green, in Horetown parish (Simington 1953, 87). The Down Survey map of Horetown parish (1655-6) in the National Library of Ireland (ms, 725; microfilm P 7384; N 6380) shows the castle in Horetown More townland, that is now Horetown North, but the castle does not survive and its precise location is not known. See the attached section from the Down Survey (1656-8) parish map (N at top right) reproduced courtesy of the National Library of Ireland (Ms 725) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 20 March, 2013

Philip de Hore exchanged lands with the Furlong family for Polehore on the River Slaney between 1310 and 1311, after which the Furlongs became associated with Horetown. The castle is remembered for its connection to this land exchange, reflecting medieval land transactions and family alliances in the region.