Mondrehid Castle

The terrier of the 1654-57 Down Survey for the parish of Offerlane recorded that ‘there is at Monedrehitt and Eglish a Ruined Castle’ (NLI, MS 720). According to the Down Survey in 1641 the lands of Mondrehitt and Eglish belonged to the Duke of Buckingham and Teige Fitzpatrick. A tower house type castle is depicted standing in the townland of Mondrehid on the Down Survey map of the parish of Offerlane. Fitzpatrick castle which is listed in 1621 as part of the estate belonging to John Fitzpatrick (Cal. inq. post mortem, 19 Jac I). Carrigan refers to a much ruined castle (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 134). Only the fragment of a wall (L 14m; H 5m) built of roughly coursed rubble limestone, running NW-SE and NW angle survive; also a fragment of the base of SW wall (L 8m). Featureless. 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. Compiled by: David Sweetman and Bernie Moran Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 8 June 2016

Mondrehid Castle was likely built in the 17th century, as recorded in the Down Survey of 1641 and 1654-57, though the specific builder or holder remains unidentified. It is remembered as a ruined castle associated with the lands of Mondrehitt and Eglish in the parish of Offerlane.