Burial ground in Castlebank

Following the outbreak of hostilities in 1641 a number of Protestant settlers fled to Castlebank (CL063-010----) for protection. This castle was besieged in May – June 1642 and the following is recorded in the deposition of Frances Rinders, the wife of John Rinders who were there: ‘. . . that during the time they were blocked up in the said castle three young children one of them called Mathew Rinder, this deponent’s child, & two of Robert Bankes’ his children using to go forth often to gather herbs were taken by some of the enemy & never found nor heard of ever since; but the common opinion of Limerick & other places thereabouts is that the said Mathew was murdered & buried half dead & th’other two children thrown into the river & drowned. She being further examined says that three of her children as also thirty other men, women & children during the said siege through the extremity of the same and being likewise starved, died in the said castle & were all in & near the said castle buried.’ (TCD MS 829, fols 56r, 57v). A small triangular earthen mound to the northeast of the avenue is thought locally to be the burial site of the children who were murdered (see document attached to CL063-010----) (pers. comm. Martin Breen and Risteárd Ua Cróinín, 21 December 2014). Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 24 December 2014