Killenaule Castle

The site of Killenaule Castle is at the end of River Street on the left side of the road, in Castlequarter townsland, on the land of Mrs. Elizabeth Hall. The earliest record of it’s existence is 1441, when the first Lord of Knight was called Stanon. He is reported to have paid 40/- in lieu of military service.
Public instrument made on the 9/7/1482 in Church of St.John the Baptist, Cashel. There appeared in the presence of the notary and witnesses below named, Walter, son of the late Henry De Burgo, formerly Burgess of Cashel, made or had made to Richard,his bastard son, certain charters. He was compelled there by the violence of Lord James, Earl of Ormonde; and he now requested the public notary to receive and examine witnesses for a perpetual memory of the matter. (The evidence of witnesses then follows). John Rowe, 1st witness examiner says he saw the above Walter De Broun, then Sheriff of the Cross of Co. Tipperary, and then reeve of Cashel, by command of the said Earl and taken by them under arrest to Killenauyl, to the same Earl.Richard, son of Adam Walch, Burgess of Cashel, 3rd Witness says he was reeve of Cashel formerly and that the Lord Earl sent for him to come to him on a certain day at Fethard,and when he came and humbly saluted the Earl, the latter declared that in virtue of his office he should take said Walter at his instance to Killenauyl on the following day and when witness said he could not by his office, and ought not, to take or arrest any Burgess of Cashel except only for rents in the same, then the Earl ordered John Braun, Sheriff then present and also the witness, to to lead Walter prisoner on the day after to Killenauyl. When himself and John Braun,Sheriff came with Walter to the Earl’s prison in the Castle of the town of Killenauyl, the same Walter seized with terror humbly asked his Lordship that if he wished to mutilate him in foot,hand and any other member, or intended to wreck his will on him to do it instantly.  The Earl said he did not intend this. The Prior of Athassal begged the Earl not so eagerly against Walter.  The Earl wanted him taken to Carrick Castle.  Walter was brought before Council and then sent home in peace on condition that he make charters to Richard, his bastard son for his lands – July 9th 1482.
There is no trace of a castle there now and one was not mentioned in the Civil Survey (1654).  All that remains is a large flat topped mound with a ditch on the south and east sides.About 20 metres from the mound is a plain, unshaped standing stone (approx 5.2 metres high) and closer to the roadway is a short wall neither of which appear to be linked to the site.

 

– The History & Folklore of Killenaule/Moyglass 1990