What is recorded here

Moat stands in undulating Laois countryside as a deserted medieval settlement where Castletown once anchored the Ui Buidhe territory. Strongbow gave that land to Robert de Bigarz before 1176, while later lords including John de Hastings held it until burgesses paid the Earl of Pembroke in 1348. The town then vanished from notice for more than two centuries, leaving only a motte, bailey, church and graveyard for people to imagine around its absent rooms.

In undulating countryside. Castletown was the manorial centre of Ui Buidhe (Oboy), which was the pre-Norman territory given to Robert de Bigarz by Strongbow before 1176 (Orpen 1911-20, iii, 105). After 1245 it passed to William de Cantilupe and was obtained by John de Hastings in 1283 (Sweetman 1875-86, ii, no. 2107). In 1348 the Earl of Pembroke received 30s. yearly from the burgesses of Castletown and returns from the hundred of the town. (PRO1916, 128). There is no mention of Castletown after 1348 until the late-sixteenth century. In 1570-1 the lands of 'Ballycashlan Omoye' was granted to John Barnyse; in 1578 it was granted to John Baskerfield, and in 1590 was leased to Edward Sutton (Urban Survey 1986, 18). The most likely position for the borough site is the area between the motte (LA026-011001-) and the church (LA026-011002-). There are no earthworks or surface indications, however, and the probability needs to be borne in mind that this was a dispersed borough (Urban Survey 1986, 19). A circular earthwwork (LA026-011004-) now levelled located 170m to the S of the church (LA026-011002-) and graveyard (LA026-011003-) and 220m E of the motte and bailey (LA026-011001-) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

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