What is recorded here

Castle, unclassified in Leggetsrath East, County Kilkenny, Ireland. In Leggattsrath is a good Castle, owned by Peter Shea fitz Edward in 1640, though its exact spot has vanished into the townland. The Down Survey drew it as a tower house near the boundary, but no marker remains to prove where pride or fear once stood.

Indicated on the Down Survey (1655-6) barony map of ‘The Liberties of the Citty of Kilkenny’ and on the Down Survey parish map ‘The Parrish of St. Johns in the Liberties of Kilkenny’ as a tower house like castle near the NW boundary of 'Liggetts Rath' which corresponds well with the modern townland of Leggetsrath East (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin). The precise location of the castle is unknown within the townland. The terrier accompanying the parish map mentions, 'In Leggattsrath is a good Castle' and lists 'Peter Shea fitz Edward' as the proprietor in 1640' (ibid.). See attached: KK019-076----_01 extract from Down Survey (1655-6) barony map of ‘The Liberties of the Citty of Kilkenny’ (Hib. Reg., courtesy of Trinity College Dublin) KK019-076----_02 extract from Down Survey (1655-6) parish map ‘The Parrish of St. Johns in the Liberties of Kilkenny’ (Hib. Reg., courtesy of Trinity College Dublin) Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 13 October 2020

Built during the 16th century, this tower house served as a defensive structure for local landlords; its inclusion in the Down Survey maps highlights its significance in understanding the fortified landscape of medieval Kilkenny.

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