Castle - unclassified

The National Monuments Service's description

A Desmond castle surrendered to English in 1569; there was a 'good house and six small cottages' here in mid-17th century (Westropp 1906-7, 162). Probably on or near site of present Mellon House which was built in 1780 (Bence-Jones 1978, 204).
Rinekirky Castle in Mellon described by Westropp (1906-7, 162) as following; '1569 Rynekirkey C[astle]. in Kenry surrendered to the English (C.S.P.L). 1583 The Knight of Glan, Roynkyrkey in Ardecanghe (Des. R., 74b; Peyton, 215; Hardiman Map, 1590, No. 63). 1637 Reinkirky and Mollane held by Garrett EitzGerald (Inq. Chan., 227, 249) ; Mullane with a good house and six small cottages, Gerrott oge and Morrish FitzGerald (C.S., pp. 6, 7). 1703 Sold to Phineas Bury, who granted it to T. Westropp, of Ballysteen, who in 1744-5 left it to his second son Mountiford, whose descendants hold it. It is at the mouth of the Maigue'.
The 1654-56 Civil Survey of Limerick recorded that Gerrott Oge fitz Gerrald of Mullane held in Mullane [Mellon] 'one good house, & six smale cottages' & 'on the North with ye River of Shannon - there is a salmon weare belonging to ye p[re]mises unsett in the River of Shannon' (Simington 1938, 345).

Compiled by: Denis Power

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 08 January 2020

References

Westropp, T.J. 1906-7 The ancient castles of the county of Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 26, 54-264.

Simington, R.C. (ed.) 1938 The civil survey, AD 1654-1656. Vol. IV: county of Limerick, with a section of Clanmaurice barony Co. Kerry. Dublin. Irish Manuscripts Commission.

Bence-Jones, M. 1978 Burke's Guide to Country Houses: Volume 1 Ireland. London. Burke's Peerage Ltd.