Settlement deserted - medieval

The National Monuments Service's description

According to Carrigan the parish of Offerlane or Upperwoods, 'formed one parish from remote times, till the year 1839, when it was broken up into two new parishes, viz., Castletown and Camross (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 171). In 1290, Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester surrendered to the King his castles of Kilkenny and Offerlane (Castletown) and received a regrant of them the next month. In 1306 'it was stated that the manor attached to the castle of Offerlane, located in the far north of Ossory, had once been worth £26 6s 6d per annum to the earl of Gloucester (O'Cleirigh 1999, 171). In 1307 it belonged to Joan, Countess of Gloucester, widow of Earl Gilbert. Thomas de Cantewelle was constable of the castle in 1309 and held it for the crown. In 1600 the castle and town of Castletown were burnt to the ground by Teige Fitzpatrick at the approach of the Lord Deputy and his army (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol.1, 493). Medieval settlement may have been located in the townland of Oldborris to the N of the Fair Green and to the W of Castletown Bridge.

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.

Date of upload: 17 December 2007