What is recorded here

Castletown was an O'Carroll castle in County Offaly, recorded in 1605 and possibly dating to the thirteenth century. Its square bawn wall still stands on the south and east, enclosing the flat ground where the main building disappeared. The wall contains an older earthen core, suggesting a strong local defence adapted across generations rather than a grand noble statement.

May have been an O'Carroll castle that is described in the 1605 Inquisition post mortem of Mulrony McTeig O'Carroll as 'de Castr' Vill' et Campis de Castleton Keneleage [Castletown]' (Loeber 1998, 312). Only the bawn (OF038-045002-) survives of what appears to be an early medieval castle of possible thirteenth century date. The bawn wall encloses a square-shaped area that once provided protection for a castle building now levelled. Only the south and east walls of the bawn are still upstanding. The base batter of the bawn wall has been robbed out to show that the walls were built on top of a mud or earthen bank that formed the inner core of the base batter. The wall was then built on top of and encapsulated the earthen bank in a manner similar to Ballykilmurry castle. This construction feature has been noted at other thirteenth century castles such as at Shrule castle, Co. Mayo and at Ballylusky, Co. Tipperary. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

Castletown was likely held by the O'Carroll family in the early 17th century, as noted in the 1605 Inquisition post mortem of Mulrony McTeig O'Carroll. It is remembered as part of the historical estate holdings of this prominent Gaelic family in the region.

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