Limerick Castle (in ruins) — Castleland (gorey By.)

Laurence Esmonde was a scion of the Esmonde family of Johnstown castle (WX042-017----). Unlike the rest of the family he was a loyal Protestant and became one of the two Commissioner for the Plantation of Wexford in 1611, and an MP for the county in 1613 (McHugh 2001). He was rewarded with grants of about 5500 acres centred on Lemmeneagh that became Limbrick or Limerick where he was required to build a castle. It had been built by 1621 and became the centre of the manor which had the right to hold courts and weekly markets with fairs once a year. A settlement (WX003-052----) developed along the road running E towards the church (WX003-026001-). A survey of 1621 describes Limerick Castle as two houses built back-to-back, each of two-and-a-half-storeys and each facing a court or bawn with flanking towers at the corners. There was a gatehouse to the smaller court (Loeber and Stouthamer-Loeber 1987, 191–2). Sir Laurence was also the Commander of Duncannon Fort (WX044-015001-) from c. 1603 until his death in 1645 and he spent much time there. At the outbreak of the Rebellion in 1641 he was able to provide 140 men for the defence of Limerick castle, most of whom would be his tenants fleeing to Limerick for safety. His own son, Sir Thomas Esmonde, was amongst the rebels and Sir Thomas held the castle from 1641 until he burnt it at the approach of Oliver Cromwell in 1649. According to the Civil Survey (1654) Sir Thomas owned all the land in the parish of Kilkeavan in 1641 but the castle is described as ruined in 1654 (Simington 1953, 14-15). The castle is located on a SE-facing slope. The S flanking tower of the bawn survives (H c. 4m) with two gun loops in the circular chamber (int. diam. 3.8m) at the ground floor, and there are two windows in the rectangular chamber (int. dims 3.6m N-S; 3.4m E-W) at the first floor. The E side of the tower does not survive, and the floor would have been of wood. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload/revision: 14 February 2012 Amended: 15 May, 2014, 17 December 2020