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The "Lost" Castle of Annagh

Right on the border with Tipperary there was a large castle in the townland of Annagh in Co. Limerick. It was in the Barony of Owneybeg or part of Owney O'Mulryan - aka Ryan Country. 

The castle was the residence of William O'Mulryan who was one of the last chiefs of the O'Mulryan clan. 

On the Down Survey maps below we can clearly see an impressive building. 


And here.


In the Civil Survey for Limerick, the townland of Annagh is owned by a John Ryan Esqr (this may be William's Son) and the following is described there. 

"Annagh three qarters of land wth a Castle two Orchards and a mill seate". 

So somewhere between the 1650s and the 1840s it is completely destroyed without a trace. 

According to Tierney in "The Parish of Murroe & Boher", the lands were confiscated in the 1650s, firstly coming into the possession of Col. Richard Lawrence until 1666 when the lands were granted to Roger, Earl of Orrery. He was an absentee landlord.

Next a Sir Thomas Hackett leased the lands in 1673. Hackett was eventually declared bankrupt in 1700. George Evans later bought the lands and leased them to John Waltho and then Joseph Barrington. 
Finally in 1840 Sir Matthew Barrington bought the lands and they were held by that family until the 1920s. 

Sir Thomas Hackett's papers are available to view at Glenstal Abbey by appointment. 

Glenstal Abbey | Association for Church Archives of Ireland

It may be possible that there are some maps or references to the castle in those or in the Barrington papers which Tierney also references. 

It is not mentioned in the OS Name Books or Letters and is not marked on the 1840s OS maps.



 
When you look at the present day aerial photos for the area, normally even if a castle is destroyed above ground, you should be able to see some kind of crop-mark. Unfortunately it isn't apparent in pretty much any aerial views I have seen. 

Also there is the question of where did all the stone from the castle go? Was it reused somewhere and if so where? 

There is one aerial view that is from the dry spell in 2020 that maybe is a clue. 




It is however less clear when you zoom in. 



And on other aerial views. 



So is this the location of this Ryan castle and what happened for it to be completely demolished? 

Local historian Pakie Ryan, in a personal communication, also informed me that a field directly across from the medieval church in Annagh was known locally as "The Castle Field". 
However this field doesn't seem to be in the correct location in relation to the Down Survey maps (which were fairly accurate). However it is the local knowledge so can't be discounted.  



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