Castle - unclassified

The National Monuments Service's description

The Urban Survey of Limerick recorded the following details about a medieval castle in the historic town (LI029-031001-) of Rathkeale; 'This was located 'near the bridge' (LI029-031002-) and Westropp (1906-7, 213-4) notes that a low broken vaulted basement and the north wall, two stories higher, with a spiral stair, remained. However no trace of this castle was located. The suggestion has been made by Jack O'Dwyer, a local historian, that it was on the site of Mount Southwell but there is no evidence to support this view' (Bradley et. al. 1989, 220). Westropp may have been describing the residential tower of the Augustinian priory (LI029-031006-) which was described in 1879 as a 'castle connected with this abbey' (Hewson 1879, 86).
Westropp (1906-07, 213-4) recorded the following details on Rathkeale; '1223 Rathgeyl held by H. Waspayl; 1240 by Roger Waspayl (B.B.L., p. 74) till after 1251, as the demesne of Radguel, which had been granted by him to J. Mautravers (C.S.P.L, No. 1778). 1308 The escheator answers nothing for Rathcayl, for it was delivered to Pat., son and heir of T. Smythe (Pipe R.). 1378 Sir J. Mautravers devised it to J. Mautravers, "le Cosyn," at whose decease it reverted to former (Mem. R., 43). When claimed by the Crown, it was stated that Rob. and Alien or Rorts were cousins to Mautravers, who, it was pleaded, held it from the Countess of Desmond, as of the manor of Iniskyfty, but in 1380 it was seized for the Crown from J. Arundel, heir of Mautravers (Mem. R., 28, &c). It was held by the Desmonds. 1487 The Earl of Desmond was treacherously slain by "his own people in Rathgaela (Ann. F.M.).
The C[astle]. is said to have been built by the Earls; it was, in 1579, burned by Malbie in his advance on Askeaton after the Battle of Monasteranenagh (C.S.P.L), March, 1580. Pelham, in his march on Glin, met Ormonde near the bridge (LI029-031002-) of Rathkell, as the river was impassable in winter. Malbie has garrisoned the C[astle]. near the bridge, but Desmond had broken the latter on a dark night the week before, Pelham repaired it, burned the C[astle], and marched to Newcastle, driving its inhabitants to Sliulogher, and camped near C[astle]. Shanet (Carew MSS. ii., p. 236). 1583 Desmond had held Rathkeale in Olybane, with "courts-baron, pipowdere, profits on amercements, bloodshed, affrays, abuses, and misdemeanours" (Des. R., 28). 1586 Maur. mac Edm. Hubbert held the C. (Peyton 79B). Gerald and Ulig, his sons, had been pardoned in 1581 (Fi. 3842). It continued in the hands of the Herberts. 1605 Edm. Hubbert pleads that his father, Morris f. Edm., left Rathkeale Abbey (LI029-031006-) and Cahirmehill to his younger son Garrett, so he (Edm.) is not liable for arrears (Rev. Exch. Orders, vol. i., p. 57). Sir J. Dowdall was granted a Thursday market at the high cross (LI029-031013-) of Rathkeale, in the manor of Knockbillingsley (Pat. R.). Edmund Hubbert had a son, Morish, who married M. Bourke, of Ballinagard, widow of Don. Canny, of Drombanny, and had issue Garrett, m. to Ellen Fitzgerald, of Caherassa, with Morris, James, and several daughters (Fun. Ent. 1638, p. 615). 1642 A number of the English fled to the Chancellor's C[astle]. of Rathkeale about Candlemas, and were besieged by M. Harbert, who "raised a fort or sconce," and "offended the besieged." He kept another C[astle]. half a mile away till the English surrendered (Deps. 264, 345, 346). 1655 Morrish Harbert held the C[astle], bridge, millseats, and tenements (C.S., p. 54). 1669 Granted to Ol. Lambert. Fabric - The low, broken, vaulted basement, and the north wall, two stories higher, with a spiral stair, remain'.

Compiled by: Denis Power

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 14 January 2019

References

Bradley, J., Halpin, A., and King, H.A. 1989 Urban archaeological survey - county Limerick (3 vols.). Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.

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

Hewson, G.J. 1879 Proceedings and Papers. Journal of the Royal Historical and Archaeological Association of Ireland, 5, 86-90.