Castle - motte

The National Monuments Service's description

St. Abban founded a church (LA026-013001-) here in 650 (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 247-249).The burgeses of Killabban gave 60s. yearly for their burgage in 1348. Killabban was defended by The Earl of Kildare in wars against the O'Mordha of Slemargy around 1358. The Borough declined in the late fourteenth century (Bradley et al. 1981, 38). In undulating countryside. A small flat-topped mound (summit diam. c. 5m; base diam. c. 18m; H c. 6m) with slight traces of an enclosing fosse (Bradley et al. 1986, 38). No visible surface remains. The motte was levelled in March 1986 as part of land clearance project by local landowner (Bradley et al. 1986, 38). No details of the history of the manor are known prior to 1318 when William de Warrewyk returned the manor of Killeban to John de Hastings (Tresham 1828, 27: no. 40). It is probable, however, that Killabban formed part of Robert de Bigarz grant of Oboy and that, like Castletown, it had passed to John de Hastings in 1283 from the De Cantilupes who had inherited it from the Marshalls in 1247 (Bradley et. al. 1986, 37-8).

Aerial photograph (GB91.EG. 29) shows cropmark of levelled motte. The aerial photograph also provides a view of the possible site of the Deserted Medieval Village, a few cropmark boundaries are visible, but no seem very informative. The aerial photograph was taken on 17 July 1991.
The above report has been compiled by Dr. G. F. Barrett and supplied to the Archaeological Survey of Ireland.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload/revision: 10 December 2010

References

Bradley, J., Halpin, A. and King, H.A. 1986 Urban archaeological survey - county Laois. Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.

O'Hanlon, Rev. J., O'Leary, Rev. E. and Lalor, Rev. M. 1914 (Reprint 1981) History of the Queen's county, vol. 2. Kilkenny. Roberts Books Ltd.

Tresham, E. 1828 Rotulorum patentium et clausorum cancellariae Hiberniae calendrium Hen II - Hen VII. Dublin.