Settlement deserted - medieval

The National Monuments Service's description

No visible surface trace of medieval borough (Bradley et al. 1989, 96-7), known as Corkmoy or Corkemoyth, located somewhere in vicinity of hall house (LI038-106004-), motte (LI038-106005-), and church (LI038-106003-). Settlement probably began after market grant of 1284, but nothing is known of its history after mid-14th century (ibid.).
Described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 96-7) as following; 'Castletown Conyers is located in south Limerick midway between Newcastle West and Kilmallock. This now deserted borough was known in the Middle Ages as "Corkmoy" or "Corkemoyth" but after its purchase by Captain Conyers in 1703 it has been called after that family (Westropp 1906-7, 229; 1904-5, 416-7). The manor seems to have been in the hands of the Fitzmaurices from an early stage in the Anglo-Norman conquest. In 1276 the manor was granted by Maurice FitzMaurice to his son-in-law, Thomas de Clare who brought new energy into the Anglo-Norman settlement of Limerick and Clare (Westropp, ibid.). In 1284 he was granted the right to hold a weekly market at his manor of "Corkmoy" and this presumably marks the beginnings of the borough settlement also (Sweetman 1875-86, ii, no. 2283). In the inquisition taken after the death of the last of the de Clare’s in 1321 it was stated that the burgesses of Corkmoid paid £4 2s annually in rents (Cal. Inquis. post mortem vi,160). Subsequently the manor passed to the Clifford family who held it during the middle of the fourteenth century (Westropp 1904-5, 416). After that date, however, nothing is known of the history of the borough. It is likely that the medieval borough was centred on the castle (LI038-106004-) and church (LI038-106003-) but no features survive above ground'.

Compiled by: Denis Power

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 21 May 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 Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.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. 1904-5 A survey of the ancient churches of Co. Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 25C, 327-479.

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

Cal. doc. Ire. - Calendar of documents relating to Ireland 1171-1307, ed. H.S. Sweetman (5 vols., London, 1875-86).

Cal. inq. post mortem - Calendar of inquisitions post mortem (18 vols., London, 1904-87)