Castletown Ho. — Castletown (kenry By.)

The castle of Castletown, which was besieged in 1642, was located, according to Westropp (1906-7, 157), in the immediate vicinity of the country house Castletown Manor. This house was demolished in 1935 (Spellissy 1989, 241). There is now no standing remains at the site of either the castle or the house. In 1592 William Carter was granted 'the town, manor castle, lands (611 acres) of Castelton, the lands of [Ardlonan] (400a), Kilbride (369a.), [Cloughrane] (310A.), Ballilongford, Fahie (12A) [with 20A. near] the Shenyne almost, overflowed with water, the castle [LI003-002----] and lands of Beagh with an old chapel [LI003-003001-] (254A.), Balvestin (282A.), all in the country called Kenrye and co. Limerick; the town of Kepaughe [Cappagh] with an old castle [LI020-077----], in Connillo (422A.), Ballicoghlane (80A.), Lismucky (153A.), Ballingowle (106A.), Ballincurragh, Cloughcutred (255A.), in the country called Connolaght in co. Limerick, posessions of Thomas Fitz Gerald, knight of the Valley, attainted, and (with others granted to Edmund fitz Thomas, of the Glanne, and his heirs) demised to the late sir Drurie, for 21 years ending in 1599, who assigned to Arthur Carter, esq., deceased, whose brother and administrator the present grantee is' (Nicholls 1994, 187-8). The conditions of this land grant stated that the 'Grantee may impark 150 acres. He must erect houses for 20 families—one for himself, 2 for freeholders, one for a farmer, and 11 for copyholders ; with other conditions usual in grants to undertakers in Munster' (ibid.). The 1641 Deposition of Sir Hardress Waller of Castletown described the building as 'The Castle and Mannor howse of Castletowne' which was besieged on the 4th May 1642 when 'the aforesayd Castle being 6 weekes intrenched and beseidged for want of water was yeilded' (TCD MS 829, fol. 284r.). The buildings around the castle were described as consisting of a 'fayre large stable one story high built of lyme & stone with fayre timber worke, a Barbican, the walls of a great hall there of 110 foote [33m] longe 30 foot [10m] broad , A pidgeon howse well stored with plenty of pidgeons'(TCD MS 829, fols. 287v). The present townland of Castletown was sometimes known as Islandmore. The 1654-56 Civil Survey of Limerick recorded that there was on the lands of Islandmore [Castletown] belonging to Major General Sir Hardress Waller ‘a ruinous Castle, sixteene cottages a pigeon house [LI003-008002-], one orchard and one weare seate [LI003-008003-] on the River of Shanen’ (Simington 1938, 353). Castletown Waller described by Westropp (1906-7, 156-7) as following; '1573 T. Knight of the Valley employed Jas. Dore, mason, "as the head of all the carpenters and masons of the country, to raze Castleton in Kenry and the Glan" (C.S.P.L ; see also Carew, i., p. 435); the place granted to Drury, Ballincastellane in Kyllkurnan. 1587 Granted to Beston and Bostock, and 1592 to Carter. The C[astle] walls of a ruined hall, three messuages, six cottages, a garden, and mill [LI003-008005-] (Fi. 5717 ; Des. R., 74b, 75 ; Peyton, p. 220). 1623 Grant to Edm. Aston, with similar recital (Inq. Chan., 15a). 1629 to Earl of Cork, conveyed to Sir J. Dowdall and others in trust (Pat. R., Deeds P.R.O.I.). 1642 Sir Hardress Waller was besieged for six weeks by Gen. P. Purcell, and surrendered for want of water. He describes the place as having a fair large stable, one story high, built of stone with fair timber-work; the repair of the C[astle]. and barbican [LI003-008004-] cost £300. He gives a long and very interesting list of goods, furniture, stock, & c, including 20 musquets, fowling-pieces, callivers, and a harquebush (Dep., 287, 290). 1657 The D.S. gives a view of the C[astle]. (D.S., B., 17). It was forfeited by Waller as one of the judges of Charles I., having signed his death-warrant. Granted to Sir H. Ingoldesbye, but remained still in possession of Waller's descendants. The modern house is on the C.[astle] site'. See attached 1657 Down Survey map of Kenry barony (Hib. Reg.) showing a large house in 'Ballimontine' [Ballymartin] where Castletown House is depicted on the OS 6-inch maps. Moige Church ruins are shown to S of large house Compiled by: Denis Power Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 12 May 2020