Castlecomer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Castlecomer is the main town in north County Kilkenny, Ireland, with a population of about 2000. It takes its name from the local castle which was built by the Normans in 1171 on the mound opposite the present gates in to the Castlecomer Demesne. Caisleán an Chumair means “The castle at the confluence of the rivers” of which there are three, The Deen, The Brocagh and the Clohogue.

The original castle was built of wood and was replaced by a stone structure by Earl Marshall about the year 1200. When Sibella, the great-granddaughter of the Norman leader Strongbow, was granted the manor in 1219, the local Brennan chiefs retreated to the hills and lived an independent life until the plantation of Castlecomer by Earl Strafford. In 1637 30,000 acres (120 km²) were granted to Sir Christopher Wandesforde by his cousin, Earl Strafford, the King's Deputy. Christopher laid out the town of Castlecomer, Ireland’s first town in stone and mortar.