What is recorded here

Cloranshea castle stood as a tower house with an attached building near the east edge of Cloran, recorded on the Down Survey parish map of 1655-6. Henry Archer and Thomas Shortall held the forfeited land in 1640, while the Rafter family later called the adjacent homestead home for over two centuries. The exact spot has vanished, leaving behind a ghost marker rather than a ruin people can touch.

Indicated on the Down Survey (1655-6) parish map of ‘Canice in the Liberties of the Citty of Kilkenny’ as a tower house like castle with another building attached, located near the E edge of the 17th-century townland of 'Cloran' (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin). This townland equates well with the modern townland of Cloranshea. The terrier accompanying the parish map lists 'Henry Archer and Thomas Shortall' as the proprietors of this forfeited land in 1640 (ibid.). According to O'Kelly (1969, 21), 'Cloranshea ruined castle adjoins the Rafter homestead which has been the home of this family for over 200 years'. The precise location of the castle is unknown. See attached: KK019-091----_01 extract from Down Survey (1655-6) parish map ‘Canice in the Liberties of the Citty of Kilkenny’ (Hib. Reg., courtesy of Trinity College Dublin) Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 14 October 2020

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.