CARLOW HISTORY
 
Carlow County - Ireland Genealogical Projects (IGP TM)

CASTLES of Co. CARLOW

Writers over the years have claimed that there were over 150 castles in County
Carlow. Tommy Clarke has succeeded in identifying the sites of 93.
 
(Source:  Carloviana 1990/1991
 

A letter from the Irish Parliament to Henry VI in 1435

Also the Countee of Catherlagh, in the south - west partie of the citie of Dyvelyn (Dublin) within this XXX yeare was oon of the keyes of the said lande mydway betweene the said citie and the out parties, it is inhabyted with enemyes and rebelx save the castles of Catherlagh and Tillagh (Carlow and Tullow) and within this lx yere there were in the said countee of Catherlagh CXLVIII. castelx and pyles defensible, well routed, bataylled and inhabyted, that now been destrued and under the subjection of the said enemies.

Ref. Collections of Kildare and Leighlin, page 15.
 
CASTLE / LOCATION
DESCRIPTION
   
ARDRISTAN: On the lands of Ardriston stands a castle.
  Ref. Down Survey.
   
AUGHA: Two castles on the lands of Acha (Augha).
  Ref. Down Survey.
   
BALLENEKELY
now BURTON HALL:
 On Ballenekely stands a castle in good repair."
  Ref. Down Survey.
   
BALLIAHEW
now KYLEBALLYHUGH:
 On Balliahew stands a castle.
  Ref. Down Survey.
   
BALLINKILLEN: Site of castle in Ballinkillen.
 
  Ref. Ordinance Survey Field Letters.
   
BALLINREE: Ballinree has the ruins of a castle."
   
  Ref. Ordinance Survey Field Letters.
   
BALLINTRANE: The old castle of Ballytrarney in Foert. (Barony of Forth).
  Ref. Patent Rolls of James 1, 22nd Feb. 1604.
   
BALLYCRINNEGAN: Possible castle site. In the Inquisitions of the Province of Leinster 3rd Sep. 1639 called Ballycrenegan Castell and in the "State of Ireland 1598," called Ballycramgain Castlayn.
   
BALLYELLEN: Upon Ballilin (Ballyellen) stands a castle.
  Ref. Down Survey.
   
BALLYLOO: The chief, Morier McDonoghe Kavanagh of the sept of Ballyloo is dead, his sept in rebellion, his house the Castle of Ballyloo.
   
BALLYBAR: Brian McDonoghe Ballaghe Kavanagh, Chief of his sept, he is upon protection, his house Castle Balliboghare in O'Dorne." (Idrone).
  Ref. Carew Calendar, 1601-1603, page 447.
   
BALLYLOUGHAN: In Ballyloughan are the ruins of four castles. The four sections of ruins that remain represent only one castle.

 http://glasnost.itcarlow.ie/~feeleyjm/archaeology/11-ballyloughan.pdf

 
  Ref. Ordinance Survey Field Letters.
   
BALLYMOGUE: Ballymogue castle in the south of the townsland. A pile of stones in the "Castle Field" are all that remain.
  Ref. Ordinance Survey Field Letters.
   
BALLYMOON:  "Upon Ballymonny (Ballymoon) stands a castle."
  Ref. Down Survey.
   
BALLYNUNNERY: A photograph of the castle ruins appears in J.K.A.S. vol. XI, page 301. Also a sketch from Thomas Dineley's Journal (1608) in J.R.S.A.I. vol. 7, 1862/63, page 47. The ruins were levelled in recent years.
   
BALLVTARSNA: In Ballytarsna the ruins of a castle.
 
  Ref. Ordinance Survey Field Letters.
   
BALLYVOLDEN: Upon Ballimolden (Ballyvolden) stands a castle. The castle is now represented by a moated site to the east of the Ballon-Rathoe Road. Possibly the castle of Baldwin de Carreu. See Register of St. Thomas Abbey, Dublin. Charter no. ccclvii.
  Ref. Down Survey.
   
BENNEKERRY: Ruins of Graiguecastle about 50 perch off the Carlow-Tullow Road at Bennekerry, the stones of the castle were removed about 1809 to build Bennekerry House.
  Ref. Ordinance Survey Field Letters.
   
BESTFIELD
formerly DUNGANSTOWN:
 Upon Ducanstown (Dunganstown) stands a castle." Over the years stones from the ruins have been carted away for building purposes, but some traces are still clearly discernible on the east bank of the Barrow.
   
BORRIS:Borris House Morgan Kavanagh was seized of the castle town and lands of 'Borres.'
  Ref. Inquisition at Carlow, 15th Sep. 1637.
   
CARLOW: Ruins on the east bank of the Barrow. A late 17th century sketch of the then intact castle appears in 'Grose's Antiquities of Ireland' and two late 17th century sketches can be seen in 'Thomas Dineley's Journal' (1680).

Carlow Castle page
   
CARRIGDUFF: In the centre of Carrigduff an old castle ruin covered with ivy.
  Ref. Ordinance Survey Field Letters.
   
CARRTCKSLANEY:  Possible site. "Upon Carrickslaney stands a house."
  Ref. Down Survey.
   
CASTLEGRACE: William le Gras, son of Edmund le Gras, Grants to Edmund Butler of Ireland, and his heirs, Castrum Gras in Forth. "Endorsed, the deed of Gras's Castell in Forth."
  Ref. Calendar of Ormond Deeds, Vo.. 1. No. 340. Between 1299-1305.
   
CASTLEMORE: Upon Castlemore stands a castle.
  Ref. Down Survey.
   
CASTLETOWN: Upon Castletown stands a castle. A small section of the original castle is incorporated in the present Castletown Castle, the residence of Mr. John Monahan.
   
CHAPELSTOWN: Grant from the King, James I, to Sir Charles Wilmott, of the castle, town and lands of Chapelstown.
  Ref. Patent Rolls of James 1, 26th Jan. 1612.
   
CLOCRISTICK: Possible site, suggested by the name. In the Carew Mss. Microfilm National Library, Dublin, called Clochroistic, i.e. Roche' Stone (Castle).
   
CLOES INCH: now ORCHARD, near Leighlinbridge: Cloes Inch in county Carlow containing a ruinous castle.
  Ref. Inquisitions of the Province of Leinster. 25th Sep. 1635.
   
CLOGHKEIT: Possible site suggested by the name. "Cloghkeit in the parish of Killinane."
  Ref. Advertisement for auction of land in Killinane 1868, "Parish Bundles, Co. Library, Carlow.
   
CLOGRENNANE: The Manor of Cloughgreenane wheron stands a faire house (castle) in repair.
  Ref. Down Survey.
  The castle of Clogrennane is four square but little as are the manner of the castles in that land. A sketch of the castle appears in Thomas Dineley's Journal J.R.S.A.I. vol. 7, 1862/63, page 42.
  Ref. Calendar of Carew MSS 1515-74.
   
CLOGHNA: Grant from James I to Sir John Davys the castle, town, and lands of Cloghna.
  Ref. Patent Rolls James 127/2/1617.
   
CLOGHNEKEARTIN: An indenture dated 24th Feb. 1589 whereby Sir Edmund Butler of Clogrennane grants the "castle and lands of Cloghnekeartin in Tullefellem" (Tullow) to Thomas Kavanagh of Callan, Co. Kilkenny.
  Ref. Calendar of Ormond Deeds. Vo. VI, No. 58.
   
CLONEGAL:clonegal Clonegal (Huntington) castle was built as a tower house in 1625 by the 1st Lord Esmonde. It was remodelled with additions in 1680 and again 1720.
  Ref. Burke's Guide to Country Houses, Vo. 1, page 157.
   
CLONMACSHANE: Clonshannon alias Cloghneshannon. Clogh McShoneen = Jennings Stone (castle).
  Ref. Act of Settlement & Explanation 3/3/1680.
   
CLONMELSH: Grant from James I to Theobald Viscount Butler of Tulleophelim (Tullow) "of a castle, four cottages, sixty two acres arable and fourty four pasture in Clonemulskye" (Clonmelsh).
  Ref. Patent Rolls James 120/12/1607.
   
CLONMORE: In 132 Sir Anthony de Lucy, the Justiciary carried extensive repairs to the "Castrum de Clonmore."
  Ref. Annals of Friar Clyn.
   
CLONMULLEN: Grant from the King James I, to James Hamilton. A castle and a mart - land in Clonmullin. 14/2/3rd year James I. (yr1606).
Notes for researchers:
James I of England from the period 1603-1613, by Paul van Somer I (1576-1621)
Reign 24 July 1567 – 27 March 1625 (Scotland)
24 March 1603 – 27 March 1625 (England and Ireland)
Predecessor Mary, Queen of Scots (Scotland) Elizabeth I (England)
Successor - Charles I
Royal house - Stuart
Father - Lord Darnley
Mother - Mary I
Born - 19 June 1566
Edinburgh Castle
Died - 27 March 1625 (aged 58)
Theobalds House
Burial - Westminster Abbey
   
CLONOGAN: An old castle on Clonogan.
  Ref. Down Survey.
  The commissioners found that the chief dwelling of "The Manor of Clonogan" was formerly a castle built for the defence of the Country.
  Ref. J.K.A.S., vol. 7, page 127.
  Clonogan house built in 1827/7 from the stones of Clonogan castle.
  Ref. Ordinance Survey Field Letters.
   
CLORUSKE: Possible site, suggested by name.
   
CLOSUTTON: A moated site known locally as "The Bawns." Called Clogh Ireton in the Down Survey. Morogh son of Gerald "Sutton" Kavanagh, was in dispute with Sir Peter Carew about lands in Idrone in 1569.
  Ref. Down Survey.
   
CLOWATER: Site of Clowater castle in the north centre, in a stockyard which is the property of the widow Tennant.
  Ref.. Ordinance Survey Field Letters.
   
COPPENAGH: Coppenagh castle, a roughly built structure about 30 links square.
  Ref. Ordinance Survey Field Letters.
   
CRAANS: Castle site is shown on the Down Survey Map, in the northern part of the townsland.
   
DOWNINGS: In the north side of Downings the site of an old castle.
  Ref. Ordinance Survey Field Letters.
   
DUNLECKNEY: Upon Dunlackey (Dunleckney) is a castle.