What is recorded here

Richardstown Castle vanished without a grave, likely knocked down by lightning in 1865 after passing from Edmund Spenser to the Roche family. The NE-facing slope holds no stones, only a clean break in the grass where the building stood. The sky struck once and took the walls, leaving behind a hole that refuses to be remembered.

On break in NE-facing slope. No visible surface trace of castle. Probably a Synan castle, granted in late 16th century to Edmund Spenser who subsequently granted possession to a member of the Roche family (Healy 1988, 361). According to Jones (1902, 234), 'knocked down by lightning in 1865'. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

Built as a Synan castle and granted in the late 16th century to Edmund Spenser, who later transferred it to the Roche family; it is remembered for its association with Spenser, the poet and colonial administrator in Ireland.

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