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Bence-Jones (1988, 62) mentions an earlier house or castle which occupied the moat behind the present Castle Blunden which was built in the 18th century. The Down survey (1655-6) barony map of ‘The Liberties of the Citty of Kilkenny’ and the parish map of ‘St Patricks Parish’ indicate a castle in the S portion of ‘Clonemoryne wood’ or ‘Wood of Clonemorne’ (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin). The terrier accompanying the parish map notes, ‘a Castle in repaire in Clonemorne’ and the proprietors in 1640 is listed as ‘Shrub wood & Timber’ in Clonemorne which belonged to George Shea (ibid.). Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 218) notes that, 'George Shee, son of Helias, survived down to 1653, when, as an Irish Papist, he forfeited the castles and lands of Clonmoran, Holdensrath and Sholdhamrath, now Shellumsrath, and all his other possessions. His property was divided between the Cromwellians, Overington Blunden and Captain Thomas Evans'. The townland on the Down Survey appears to equate with Castleblunden townland. There is no visible trace of a castle at ground level.
See attached:
KK019-032001-_01 extract from the Down Survey (1655-6) barony map of ‘The Liberties of the Citty of Kilkenny’ (Hib. Reg., courtesy of Trinity College Dublin)
KK019-032001-_02 extract from the Down Survey (1655-6) parish map of ‘St Patricks Parish’ (Hib. Reg., courtesy of Trinity College Dublin)
Compiled by: Jean Farrelly
Date of upload: 5 October 2020
This remains an important historical record, but the official description says the monument is no longer visible or has been destroyed.
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