Castle - tower house

The National Monuments Service's description

Woodstock (Bodastóic) Castle stands today in a woodland area on the townland boundary with Rylanes. Moated Site (LI029-148---) in field 210m to NNE. Mill race of 'Old Mill' (LI029-116----) runs past the castle immediately to W with mill building 355m to S.
Westropp (1906-7, 224) recorded the following details about Woodstock known in medieval times as Bodastóic; '1583 J. Roe Lacye held Boddestocke C[astle]. (Peyton, p. 59); or Ric. Mac Tho. Reylie, who held Bodestoick C[astle]. and mill [LI029-116----] when he joined Desmond's rebellion. He had mortgaged it for forty milch cows and their calves to J. Creagh (Inq. Exch, 11, 16). 1611 Rob. Cullum granted Bostocke C[astle]. to H. Billingsley, Alderman, of London, and the latter to Jas. Golde (Inq. Chan, 6b). 1641 W. Cullum, of Bodestow, "with souldyrres," is stated by T. Southwell to have half-hanged and thrown into the Deel E. Harding (Dep, 268). 1655 Woodstocke and Cahyreenossa, W. Cullum (C.S, p. 41) granted, and, in 1668, confirmed to J. Odell (Act Sett.).'
Castle remains described in the Ordnance Survey Letters for Ballingarry parish as following; 'It measures twenty one feet ten inches [6.65m] by fifteen feet nine inches [4.8m], the walls being about thirty five feet high [10.6m] at present and five feet ten inches [1.8m] in thickness. The first stone arch remains. This building looks very old and is all covered with ivy' (OSL).

Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien

Date of upload: 31 May 2020

References

OSL - Ordnance Survey Letters. Letters written by members of the Ordnance Survey's 'Topographical Department' (T. O'Conor, A. O'Curry, E. Curry, J. O'Donovan and P. O'Keeffe) sent to headquarters from the field (1834-41). MSS in Royal Irish Academy.

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