Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Castle - tower house
Rockstown, County Limerick, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Rockstown
- County
- Limerick
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Rockstown Castle (in ruins)
- Latest-edition OS map
- Rockstown Castle (in Ruins) (1923)
- Coordinates
- 52.56718, -8.55708
- SMR number
- LI022-108----
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1790 "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
Ballynacarrig or Rockstown Castle described in 1840 as following; 'The castle is placed on a limestone rock, about 3 or 4 chains [60-80m] in diameter and proportionally high. It is about 60 feet [20m] and abut 24 feet each side, being square in plan. The Bourkes are said to have inhabited it' (OSNB, 707).
Westropp (1906-7, 90-1) recorded the following details about Ballynacarrig Castle; '1583 Ballnecarrig C. held by W. Bourke (Des. R., 37). 1600 Jas. Gould held C. of Ballynecarrygie or Rockstowne (Inq. Chan., 40b). 1655 Capt. G. Ingoldesbye held C. and bawn of Ballinacarriggie (C.S., xxi., p. 35), Ballinecarrig (D.S.A., 24). Fabric - A tower standing on rocks, with a wide outlook. It is 50 feet [15m] high, measures 26 feet [8m] by 24 feet [7.3m] inside, and has four stories well preserved (O.S.L., 8, p. 366). Views in Du Noyer's sketches, R.S.A.I. collection (iii. 41a, iv. 62).
Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of upload: 3 January 2019
References
Westropp, T.J. 1906-7 The ancient castles of the county of Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 26, 54-264.
OSNB - Ordnance Survey Name Books. Pro-forma books arranged by Civil Parish for recording townland and other name-forms and compiled in the course of the OS 6-inch survey 1824-1841. The name books also include minor names and incidental references to antiquities. National Archives of Ireland.
Nearby in the register
- Bawnunder 1 mi
- Field systemunder 1 mi
- Field systemunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.