Ancient Village (Site of) — Park OR Dunamase

Reference to an ancient village here (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 272). The earthworks of the borough lie on raised ground to the W of Dunamase Castle (LA013-052). Surviving features consist of low earthen banks, faint traces of a N-S hollow way (L. c. 40m, D c. 0.3m), and a rectangular-shaped enclosure (dims. 35m N-S, 46m E-W) defined by a bank (Wth c. 6.7m, int. H c. 0.8m, ext. H c. 0.5m) at N, NE and E and elsewhere by a scarp. No evidence of fosse or original entrance. Possible remains of two small rectangular house platforms to NNE of enclosure plus cultivation ridges. Ringfort to NW. These earthworks mark the site of the borough of Dunamase (Bradley et al. 1981, 24). The placename is derived from Dun-Masc, 'fort of Masc', said to have been built by Cainen Masc (Hogan 1910, 386). In 843-4 Dun Masc was according to the Annals of the Four Masters plundered by the Vikings, resulting in the death of Aedh, abbot of Terryglass and Clonenagh. The site is best known for the great Anglo-Norman castle which crowns the rock of Dunamase (Urban Survey 1986, 22). Dunamase was apparently granted to Strongbow by Diarmait Mac Murchada as part of the dower of his daughter Aoife. It became the most important Anglo-Norman manor in Laois and was retained as demesne land by Strongbow's heirs. For a time after the death of Strongbow and prior to William Marshall's arrival in Ireland, the manor was held by Meiler Fitzhenry (Orpen 1911-20, I, 381). In the partition of Leinster in 1247, Dunamase went to Roger de Mortimer, husband of Maud, William Marshall's grand-daughter (Sweetman 1875-86, ii, no. 933). In 1302 Edmund de Mortimer was given licence to grant the castle and manor of Dunamase to Theobald de Verdon on his marriage with Edmund's daughter, Matilda (Sweetman 1875-86, v. no. 67). From the mid fourteenth century, Dunamase was in Irish hands and the borough probably declined rapidly (Urban Survey 1986, 22). It has long been suggested that the borough of Dunamase is to be indentified with the Newtown of Leys, frequently mentioned in thirteenth and fourteenth century documents (Orpen 1911-20, iii, 104). This identification is not certain however and other places in the county such as Lea Castle (LA005-006-) have been suggested. In the partition of 1247 Roger de Mortimer received the borough of Dunamase (Sweetman 1875-86, ii, no 933) but in the extent made on his death there are no burgage returns for Dunamase. The earliest reference to the Newtown of Leys as a borough occurs in 1232 when it was listed as part of the dower offered by Earl Richard Marshall to the countess of Pembroke (Sweetman 1875-86, I, no. 1950). An inquisition of 1323 recorded that the manor of Dunamase was waste and only a few burgages remained in the Newtown of Leys (Otway-Ruthven 1968, 252). No further references to the borough are known indicating that it declined soon after this date (Urban Survey 1986, 24). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 17 December 2007