Lismakeery Castle (in ruins)

Lismakeery Old Castle described in 1840 as 'a rectangular building, the walls and gables are standing. The west and south walls are about 20 ft. [6m] high; part of the north and east walls are of the same height, but other parts are not more than 10(12) ft. [3-4m] high. It would seem that the entire was much higher formerly' (OSNB Lismakeery Parish, 1249). Westropp (1906-7, 207-8) recorded the following details about Lismakeery Castle; 'An appanage of Keynsham. 1302 Lismaceyre. 1582 Pardon to "W. Lacye, of Lysmakire (Fi. 3842). Jas. Reough Lacy held the C[astle]. (Des. R., 72; Peyton, p. 89). Granted to F. Berkeley, who leased it to Edm. Drew (Fi. 5242). Called Lisvikerry, Lismackerry, Lismacdyrrye (1591 Valor and Inq. Chan., ix., 74). 1615 Maur. Berkeley settled it on his wife with reversion to his brother Henry and their sisters (Deeds, P.R.O.I., p. 58). 1629 Edm. Fitzgerald, of Lissakaire C[astle]. alias Tryenlassamacdirry, or Garrinp'son; he had enfeoffed Edm. Lacy in 1609 (Inq. Chan., ix., 74). 1655 The ruinated C[astle]. held by Lord Brohill (C.S., xxii., p. 71). It was traditionally regarded as a de Lacy C[astle]. in 1840. Fabric - It is quite defaced; the south and west walls 20 feet [6m] high, and barely 12 feet [3.65m] of the other sides (O.S.L., 9, p. 451)'. Castle depicted on 17th century Down Survey map of Connello Barony (Hib. Reg.). The 1654-56 Civil Survey of Limerick recorded that Lord Brohill, am English Proprietor, was the owner of 'a ruinated Castle' on the lands of Lismakeery (Simington 1938, 310). Classified by Donnelly (1999, 22, 37) as a Type 5 tower house which consists of a castle with 'rectangular floor plans each of which is unique to an individual site, though each building had architectural features which placed them firmly within the Irish Gothic tower house tradition'. Castle described by Salter (2004, 90) as follows; 'Most of the vault over the second storey has survived the loss of the NE corner and the removal of the upper levels reached by a straight stair in the east wall from the south-facing entrance. There may have been a projection at the NW corner.' Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 3 December 2020

Lismakeery Castle was built in the 17th century by the Blake family, who were prominent in the area during the Plantation of Ulster. The castle is remembered for its historical association with the Blake dynasty and as an example of early Irish domestic architecture.