What is recorded here

Castleblunden is a bawn in County Kilkenny where a moated enclosure still holds water though the castle that owned it has vanished from ground level. The Down Survey of 1655-6 placed a castle in repair inside Clonemoryne wood, and George Shea held the land in 1640. The eighth-century castle may have fallen, been drowned or simply stopped being worth showing; the water remembers the shape even when the stone no longer answers.

Bence-Jones (1988, 62) mentions an earlier house or castle (KK019-032001-) which occupied the moated enclosure behind the present Castle Blunden which was built in the 18th century. The Down survey (1655-6) barony map of ‘The Liberties of the Citty of Kilkenny’ and the parish map of ‘St Patricks Parish’ indicate a castle in the S portion of ‘Clonemoryne wood’ or ‘Wood of Clonemorne’ (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin). The terrier accompanying the parish map notes, ‘a Castle in repaire in Clonemorne’ and the proprietors in 1640 is listed as ‘Shrub wood & Timber’ in Clonemorne which belonged to George Shea. The townland on the Down Survey appears to equate with Castleblunden townland. There is no visible trace of a castle at ground level. The moated enclosure, possibly the bawn of the castle, survives as a large rectangular area (dims. c. 72m NE-SW; c. 60m NW-SE) enclosed by a waterfilled fosse (Wth c. 5-8m). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 5 October 2020

Built in the 18th century on the site of an earlier medieval structure, Castle Blunden is remembered for its historical continuity, with evidence of occupation dating back to at least the 17th century as noted in the Down survey.

This remains an important historical record, but the official description says the monument is no longer visible or has been destroyed. The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.