Castle - unclassified

The National Monuments Service's description

Westropp (1906-7, 235-6) recorded the following details about Mayne Castle; 'It was remembered recently, the modern house being on its site, and was a reputed templary. An appanage of Keynsham Abbey, surrendered 1227 (B.B.L., p. 75). 1255 Walter Wansell, the sheriff, accounts for ward of the C[astle]. of Mayn (Carew MSS. ; Book of Howth, p. 428). Thomas an Appagh granted Meine [Mayne] to Gibbon, son of J., of Callan, whence the MacGibbons, White Knights. 1307 Suit of the Prior of Bathkeale and Hugh Purcell as to dues off the manor of Mayen (Plea R., Cal., p. 205). 1309 Sybil, widow of H. de la Chapelle, claims one-third of Mayne (Repert. Plea R. p. 32). 1551 J., the White Knight, was compelled to transfer Meine [Mayne] to the Earl of Desmond. 1583 The Manor of Bean [Mayne], late perquisite of the White Knight from the Earl of Desmond, "one C[astle], which was an excellent and ample residence before the rebellion, in which it was totally wasted, so that at present (1583) nothing but the stone walls remain" (Des. R., 15b; Peyton, 50; Inq. Exch., 54). 1592 Grant to H. Oughtred of the C[astle]. of Meine [Mayne] alias Mahownagh and Treanmeane, and the house of Mahownagh (Fi. 6533). 1598 The C[astle], of Meane, Pallice, and Ballinwylly belonged to Sir H. Oughtred; he fled with his wife to Limerick, leaving sixteen men in the house, who fled after two days, and the Irish took it (C.S.P.L). 1600 Garrett Fitz Nicholas, the nearest rebel to Askeaton, was "haunted and hunted" by Sir F. Berkeley, who took the C[astle]. of Mayne and all the rebels' corn (Pacata Hib. i., chap, xii.), 1611 The Manor of Meane and 400 acres held by Paul Arrondell from Sir W. Courtenay for thirty-one years, whereupon was a fair house, erected by Sir H. Oughtred, but defaced in the late rebellion. There is now a sufficient dwelling on it (Inq. Chan., 6b). 1624 Pardon to T. Fitzgerald for alienation of Gortnetubbrid, Mayne, &c. (Pat.R.). 1655 Meane C[astle], out of reparacion, held by Col. E. Courtenay (C.S, p. 12). Fabric - The remains of the old C[astle]. fortifications at the Manor of Mayne were turned into a barrack before 1827 (Fitzgerald i., p. 377)'.
The 1655 Civil Survey of Limerick recorded that in 1640 Colonel Francis Courtnay was the owner of Mayne which contained, 'a Castle and a Mill seate [LI045-110----] out of reparation' (Simington 1938, 260). In 1837 the following details were recorded about Mayne; 'At Mayne are traces of ancient buildings, supposed to have been ecclesiastical, though their present appearance indicates that it was a military position' (Lewis 1837, 336). No surface remains of Mayne House which was described in 1840 as a 'neat house, 2 stories high, with offices, a plantation and a garden. The residence of Bryan Sheehy' (OSNB Mahoonagh Parish).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 6 August 2021

References

Simington, R.C. (ed.) 1938 The civil survey, AD 1654-1656. Vol. IV: county of Limerick, with a section of Clanmaurice barony Co. Kerry. Dublin. Irish Manuscripts Commission.

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.

Lewis, S. 1837 A topographical dictionary of Ireland, 2 vols. London. Lewis and Co.

Fitzgerald, P. 1826-7 The history, topography, and antiquities of the county and city of Limerick. 2 vols. Dublin.