What is recorded here

Foynes Island held a castle that men kept, lost, surrendered and forgot before the water closed over it. Desmond, Trenchard and Cahissie all touched the same stones, yet no marker remains to show where the wall stood or the door opened. The castle is not missing because it was small; it is missing because the sea took the part people could point to. What is left is a name repeated in lease after lease, sounding like a room that has been flooded but still waits for someone to return its keys.

Castle on Foynes Island is mentioned in various 16th century documents; exact location not known (Westropp 1906-7, 240). Westropp (1906-7, 240) recorded the following details about the castle on Foynes Island; '1452 ffoyns, held by Earl of Desmond (Rental). 1569 Honne (i.e. ffoinne) C[astle] surrendered. 1570 Dionys Cahissie, Chancellor of Limerick, held ffoyne C[astle]. (Inq. Exch, 11). 1582 Pardon to Morrish oge Shihy, of Eoyn (Fi.3842). 1583 Desmond held the C[astle]. and Island in Ballyrobert (Des. R, 11b). 1587 Same granted to W. Trenchard; after his death, his executors left it to the enemy (Fi. 5078; C.S.P.I, p. 325). 1611 Same confirmed to Trenchard (Pat. R.); Jas. Creagh held under lease from him the broken C[astle], &c, on the Island (Inq. Chan, 6b, 35b). 1637 Ed. Trenchard held same (see also C.S, p. 95). Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011

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