Castle - unclassified

The National Monuments Service's description

Castle site described in 1943 as following; 'This castle is not marked on the O.S. map, but a point on Cromwell Hill marked "Cashlan" is possibly its site. The tradition remains locally that a castle once stood on the hill at this point, but there is no trace of it now' ( O'Kelly 1942-3, 175). Castle site described by Westropp (1906-7, 187-8) as following; 'Cromwells are an early English family in County Limerick; they possibly took their name from this place "Cromehoill," Cromellston, in County Limerick, named in 1299 (Plea R.). 1325 Isolde Cromwell had dower on Ballygodan (Ib., 144). 1399 The custody of the estate of Ric. Harold in Ballylogh, disturbed by his widow (Mem. R.). 1578 Pardon to J. Mac Morris O'Rahelly, of Cromal (Fi. 3364). 1583 Knockgromell, a poor, low C[astle]. or peel tower (Des. R., p. 6). It is called "Cromwelloknowing" C[astle. (Peyton, 15); Cromyglaon (lb., p. 228), and Gromewell (Carew). 1591 C[astle]. transferred by W. Agar to W. Carter (Inq. Chan., 6b). 1597 Jas. Cromwell got a lease of Corcomohead from the Cathedral Chapter (Exch. Records, p. 6). 1607 Cromwell or Cromawall C[astle]. to N. Haward (Pat. R.). 1637 Fra. Fitton, of Anny, married J. Lacy, and held, with other lands, Cromwell or Cnocknegromwille; he was "a distracted lunatic and non compos mentis" (Inq. Chan., 191). 1655 Cromwell, W. Fitton, and Annabel Browne (C.S., xxxi., p. 3 ; Petty Map, 68; B.D., 118). 1688 Jas. FitzGerald, of Cromwell, attainted (Trustee Map, " 21 "). 1703 Sold to B. Burton.' Castle site not visible today on Digital Globe aerial photographs. Tower House like castle depicted in 'Crumlin' on the 17th century Down Survey map of Small County Barony (Hib Reg.).

See attached Down Survey map showing the castle in Crumlin

Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 4 March 2021

See attached ASI aerial photograph ASIAP - 133/09 taken 23/08/2000. 332/10, 11, 14 taken 05/10/2002.

References

ASIAP - Archaeological Survey of Ireland Aerial Photographs (c. 1996 - c. 2010).

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

O'Kelly, M.J. 1942-3 A survey of the antiquities in the barony of Small County, Co. Limerick. North Munster Antiquarian Journal 3, 75-97, 169-84, 222-46.

Hibernia Regnum: A set of 214 barony maps of Ireland dating to the period AD 1655-59. The original parish maps have been lost but the Hibernia Regnum maps are preserved in the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris (Goblet 1932, v-x). Photographic facsimiles of these maps were published by the Ordnance Survey, Southampton in 1908.