Settlement deserted — medieval in Kilmeadan

Kilmeadan received a charter from King Henry III (1216-72) with the rights of Breteuil, and the manor of Kilmeadan was the property of John Fitzthomas Fitzgerald in 1282. In 1285 it was granted to Walter de la Haye with a weekly market (Sweetman 1879, No. 1311). By the early 14th century it had passed into Le Poer hands, and John, the son of Benedict le Poer was styled Lord of Rathgormuck and Kilmeadan in 1328. Le Poer continued to be so styled into the fifteenth century. In the Civil Survey (Simington 1942, 138) Kilmeadan is a manor owned by John Power of Dunhill (WA025-045001-) in 1640. It must have continued as a settlement as the population was 69 in 1659 (Pender 1939, 345). The location is uncertain, but it may have been around the site of the parish church (WA008-018001-). However, archaeological testing (99E0164) c. 150m to the W of the church produced no evidence of the settlement (Moore 2000). Kilmeadan castle (WA008-049----) is c. 1km to the E. (Bradley et al. 1989, 53-4) Compiled by: Michael Moore. Date of Upload: 3rd November, 2010.