What is recorded here

Stradbally’s Castle of Palace stood opposite the Market Square until Francis Cosby destroyed it and rebuilt the stones into his own fortified house. The O'Moore stronghold vanished beneath Cosby bricks, perhaps leaving no marker except the shape of the village street. What remains is a warning about ownership: even a palace can become building material for someone else.

In the middle of the village of Stradbally on the E side of Main Street opposite the Market Square. An O'Moore castle was situated here known as the Castle of Palace. It was destroyed by the Cosby family who built a fortified house (LA014-039004-) on its site (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 327-329). Described in 1907 as 'this castle was surrounded by a fosse, and it is said to have been called the Castle of Palace' (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 327). Mooney (1955, 155) stated that the abbey (LA014-039001-) of Stradbally had 'been thrown down by Francis Cosby, who built a dwelling house for himself in the same place from the materials'. Feehan (1983, 400) suggested that the 'O'More castle of Stradbally was replaced with a fortified house, apparently on the site of the present Abbey House, by the Cosbys'. No visible surface remains. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 27 May 2016

An O'Moore castle known as the Castle of Palace stood at the site of Abbey, Vault in Stradbally and was destroyed by the Cosby family, who built a fort in its place. The site is historically significant as it reflects the shifting power dynamics between Gaelic and Anglo-Norman families in the region during the late medieval period.

This remains an important historical record, but the official description says the monument is no longer visible or has been destroyed. The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.