What is recorded here

Rossnaharly, now Harley Park, held a little castle with only walls standing when surveyed in 1654. It passed from the late Earl of Desmond to James Earle of Ormond through his Lady’s descent. The castle may still hide beneath or beside the 18th-century house on the open upland, waiting to be found.

Described in the Civil Survey (1654-6) as a 'little castle the walls onely standing' which belonged to James Earle of Ormond in right of his Lady by descent of the late Earl of Desmond (Simington 1931, vol.1, 124). In the Civil Survey (1654-56) the townland was known as Rossnaharly (ibid.). The castle was provisionally located to Harleypark House which is situated in flat grassland in upland region with good views in all directions. It is an 18th-century two-storey five-bay house (Bence-Jones 1988, 145) with a possible 17th-century house (TS056-001002-) incorporated into the rear of the house. The castle does not appear to have been incorporated into the house. The exact location of the castle within the townland is unknown. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

Harley Park was held by James, Earl of Ormond, in the mid-17th century, by right of his wife descended from the Earl of Desmond. It is remembered as a surviving example of late medieval Irish castle architecture, noted in the Civil Survey of 1654–5.

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