Castle - unclassified

The National Monuments Service's description

On top of a high hill on the E margin of the Nore river valley, overlooking a former lake to the S. The top provides commanding views in all directions. It was known locally as the ‘Moat’. According to the field inspection report in 1987, 'the entire hill has been removed by quarrying'.
Orpen (1909, vol. 39, 320-21) in his description of seignorial manors in Kilkenny in 1247 mentions the manor of 'Locmadran' which has been equated with Loughmerans. It is possible that a seignorial castle was located in this position and that was retained in folk memory. However, Orpen states that in the documentary evidence of the 'maneria' [manor] in 1247 there is no mention of a castle (ibid.). Included in a document listing the property of the manor, called the Extent Loughmethora [Locmadran], there is, 'a bretage, grange, stable, sheep-fold on posts in bad condition and ruinous." The desmesne lands are described as poor and uncultivated' (ibid.).

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 16 June 2020

References

Orpen, G.H. 1909 Motes and Norman castles in Ossory. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 39, 313-42.