What is recorded here

Knockea may never have worn a castle at all, although Chonnock gave a quarter of a knight’s fee to William Maunsel in 1247 and Philip Furlong in 1307. The name drifted through Chonnock, Connagh and Balycoynner while people imagined walls that may never have stood. What is certain is that the land belonged to someone, was measured in feudal shares and still carries the shape of that forgotten arrangement.

Chonnock was held by a quarter of a knight’s fee by William Maunsel in 1247 and by Philip Furlong in 1307 from the Bigod lands (Brooks 1950, 17). Hore (1900-11, vol. 1, 169) identifies Chonnock as Knockea, although Orpen (1904, 355) identifies the townland of Connagh in Fethard parish as a place called Balycoynner in the feodaries. It is not certain that there was ever a castle at Knockea, which was owned by William Barron of Killesk (WX039-034001-) in 1640, according to the Civil Survey (1654-6) (Simington 1953, 189), or at Conaagh (ibid. 173), which was owned by Nicholas Loftus of Fethard (WX050-011003-) in 1640 but there is no mention of a castle at either location. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 29 January, 2013

William Maunsel held Knockea Castle in 1247 and Philip Furlong in 1307, both holding a quarter of a knight’s fee from the Bigod lands. It is remembered for its association with medieval land tenure and the Bigod family's influence in the region.

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