Site of Raheenmore Castle — Report the wrong picture

What is recorded here

Raheenmore Castle vanished so completely that modern maps misname it, yet a 1640 terrier still claimed old castle runs upon the land. Peter Shortall held the place before it disappeared from memory and stone alike. The error in its name may be a gift, forcing attention onto the forgotten rather than the familiar.

On the Down Survey (1655-6) this portion of Templemartin townland is shown as being part of Rathermore townland (NLI MS720). Rathermore castle is not indicated on the barony map of Gowran or on the parish map of Blackrath and part of St Martin’s, however, the terrier accompanying the parish map describes, ‘upon Rathermore the runs of an old Castle’ (ibid.). The proprietor in 1640 is listed as Peter Shortall (ibid.). According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 364), it is ‘now almost completely wiped out as if its foundations were never laid. Its site is marked on the Ordnance Map, within the townland of Lyrath, but it is there incorrectly entered as the “Site of Ratheenmore castle”'. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 2 December 2020

Raheenmore Castle, located in the former Rathermore townland, was likely held by a local gentry family during the 16th or 17th century; its significance is tied to being part of the broader landholdings noted in the Down Survey of 1655-56.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.