Castle — unclassified in Castletown

Recorded on the Down Survey (1655-6) as a substantial house and orchard named 'Castletonne Orchard' in the immediate vicinity of Castletown House. According to Bradley et al. (1986, Vol. 2, 130), the earliest reference to the castle of Celbridge is in 1403 (Tresham 1828, 167); because of the absence of earlier references, it is likely that the castle was constructed after the Earl of Kildare gained possession of Celbridge in 1397-9. The castle stood to the north of Celbridge in Castletown townland, and was described as 'a hall built after the Irish or country manner, covered with straw' (13 PRI rep. DK, 211 no. 4181). A 2003 architectural report commissioned by the OPW (SMR file) contains the following details: "By 1787 Lady Louisa Connolly .... was involved in supervising the construction of the extensive and spacious farm buildings. It would appear that part of the farm buildings at Castletown are built on the site of the earlier tower house which gave its name to the estate … . On Rocque's map there appears to be a building located to the west of the house on the site of the mediaeval castle and at the present location of the home farm buildings. Adjacent are substantial formal gardens. … remains (comprise) a mediaeval wall incorporated in the east end of the cattle yard and the two vaults adjacent to the farmyard bell … . The footprint of this mediaeval structure could probably be revealed without great inconvenience to any other structure except for the modern forge building [later demolished] as the batter on the extant wall indicates that the building stretched towards the courtyard. …" The site is referred to locally as the 'Dongon Castle' Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011