Site of Castle

Westropp (1906-7, 194-5) recorded the following details about a castle in the townland of Ballynacourty (Baile na Cúirte); 'It is the ancient court and manor of Dermochi, or Darragh-Mochua, 1185. Darachmuchua and the court of the monks of Limerick to Magio Abbey (charter). 1317 Isabella de Cogan and Garrett Roche, Lord of Fernagen, claim rents on Glenanlara and Dermeho (Mem. R., m. 62 f.). 1300 Dermochii town assessed two marks for the Scotch wars (Pipe R.). 1583 The broken C[astle]. of Ballynacortie in Arlo, held by Pierce Grace (Des. R., 8). 1607 Ballynecourty C[astle], with Darragh, &c, granted to Ed. Fitz Harys, along with Ballinagreanagh claimed as belonging to Downe Irish, a chapel of ease of the College of Kilmallock (Inq. Chan, 1a; Pat. R. ; also Proc. R.I. A., xxv. (c), p. 425, Nos. 250, 254). 1655 A butt of an old C[astle], Sir E. FitzHarys (O.S., xxv., p. 23). Only a heap of stones remained in 1840'. Tower house type castle depicted in Ballinacourty on the 1654-56 Down Survey map of Coshlea Barony (Hib. Reg.). The terrier of the Down Survey parish map of Kilfinnane and Particles stated that 'upon the Lands of Ballynacourty is a Castle (with a small charge) to be made habitable' (NLI, MS 718). The 1654-56 Civil Survey of Limerick recorded that in 1640 Sir Edward Fitz Harris an Irish Papist was the owner of 'Ballynecourta halfe a plowland with a But of an Old Castle and an Orchard thereupon' (Simington 1938, 245). Annotated 'Site of Castle' on 1840 ed. OSi 6-inch map. In 1840 the Ordnance Survey recorded that there 'was an old castle in the townland of Ballynacourty, but as it is now reduced to a heap of rubbish, its dimensions cannot be taken' (O'Flanagan 1929, 32; OSL Darragh Parish). No surface remains visible of levelled castle. See attached Down Survey map of Coshlea Barony. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 6 October 2021

The site of Castle Ballynacourty was the ancient court and manor of Dermochi (Darachmuchua) in 1185. It is remembered as an early medieval stronghold associated with local chieftains in County Limerick.