What is recorded here

Richards mapped three old castles on the south side of The Square in 1691, yet none can be pointed out today. They may have been swallowed by newer houses, broken for stone, or buried under the busy town. What is certain is that Mullingar once wore castle walls inside its own market street before forgetting them.

Richards 1691 map of Mullingar shows three 'Old Castles' (WM019-089032-/046-) on the S side of Main Street (The Square) at the W end of the town. The precise location of this castle within the historic town of Mullingar (WM019-089----) has not been identified (Andrews and Davies 1992, 10). No surface remains visible of any castles located in The Square at the W end of Main Street (Oliver Plunkett St.) in Mullingar town (WM019-089----) (Andrews and Davies 1992, 10). In 1682 Sir Henry Piers recorded that in the town of Mullingar (WM019-089----) there were, ‘ancient buildings here [that] were old fashionable castles (WM019-089001-; WM019-089008-; WM019-089010-; WM019-089029-; WM019-089030-; WM019-089032-), some of which remain yet, and some are demolished, and better or at least more commodious houses are built in their room’ (Vallancey 1786, 78). See attached image of a group of 3 castles annotated as Building D [Old Castles] and located on the S side of The Square as shown on Richards Map of 1691 - taken from Irish Historic Towns Atlas of Mullingar (Andrews and Davies 1992, Map 4). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 1 July 2014

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