Site of Black Castle — Townparks (ballybrit By.)

Birr is situated in the low-lying fertile valley of the Little Brosna River. The town developed SE of the castle (OF035-012004-) and within the bounds of a pronounced meander in the River Camcor. The Camcor joins the Little Brosna to NW of the town. St Brendan reputedly established a monastery (OF035-012001-/003-) here in the 6th century which subsequently became a prestigious and influential foundation and one of the most celebrated members of St Columcille's great federation of churches. Located in the border area between the provinces of Munster, Meath, Leinster and Connacht and itself located in the territory of Eile in Munster, the monastic settlement was frequently chosen as a venue for the meetings of both kings and churchmen, perhaps the most significant of which were the synods of AD 697 and 1174. An Anglo-Norman castle (OF035-012009-) and settlement had been established at Birr by 1207 and continued at least until c. 1315. By the mid-14th century the settlement had reverted to the O'Carrolls of Ely. The 'Black Castle' (OF035-012010-) became one of the principal seats of the ruling branch of that dynasty and remained as such until its sale to Butler of Ormond in 1594. In 1621 as part of the Plantation of Ely O'Carroll, Laurence Parsons was granted the lands, 'castle and fortilage' of Birr which became the manor of Parsonstown and a new castle was erected by the Parsons family. Present remains consist of 19th-century castle designed by John Johnson built around the core of a 17th century castle, near to the site of a 13th-century O'Carroll castle (OF035-012010-) and a twelfth century motte castle (OF035-012009-). Earliest references to a castle located here in the 1207 (Annals of Clonmacnoise) when it was attacked and destroyed by Murchad Ua Briain. Black castle was demolished in 1778 (Girouard 1965) and replaced by lawns and parkland. Only surviving 17th-century feature is the internal staircase made of yew with bold turned balusters which rises through three storeys of the house (Bradley et. al. 1986, 26). Gatehouse with two round flanking towers were built or rebuilt between 1620-1627 by Sir Laurence Parsons (Bence-Jones 1978, 41). A drawing by Dorothy Parsons of Birr castle in 1668 depicts the house as a three storey five bay triple gable fronted house with tall Jacobean Chimney stacks with two bay three storey gable fronted L-shaped wings with dormer windows attached to the rear wall either side of the main block. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien. Date of upload: 23 May 2011