The Desmond Castle

Contrary to common belief, the castle at Newcastle West was not built by the Knights Templars but rather by the Geraldines. The Geraldines first came to Ireland with Strongbow in the Anglo-Norman invasion of 1169. Tomas Fitzmaurice seems to have held west Limerick before his death in 1215 his great grand-son Lord Tomas Fitzmaurice also may have been the castle's builder but not it's founder.

The other conflicting opinion is that it takes it's name from the castle built by the Knights Templar in the 12th century. The Templars were soon after disbanded by the Pope and when the Norman raiders invaded Limerick the town of Newcastle West fell on easy prey to the Fitzgeralds who for over three centuries made Newcastle West home of the powerful Munster or Desmond Geraldines.

The town slowly began to grow around the castle. The remains of the castle, situated just off the town square consist of two 15th century banqueting halls (The Desmond Hall & The Great Hall). It is almost perfectly restored as of today, and features an interesting black marble fire-place. The two towers, the remains of which still stand, would have been built with the banqueting hall and other buildings coming later. It was probably built as a centre and a rallying point in the Geraldine territory of West Limerick

The hall, now in public ownership serves as a cultural centre in which recitals, concerts, lectures and exhibitions are held. Gearóid Iarla, fourth Earl of Desmond, notable Gaelic poet composing in Irish, English and French and figure of folklore and legend, died here in 1339. Gearóid Iarla was considered a hero by some people as he was imprisoned by the O'Briens in Ennis. A myth surrounds his death; rumours say he was slain in Lough Gur and that he and his followers now live in a castle beneath the water of the lake, and his ghost can be seen there once every seven years. Most stories say he died in the castle. After the death of Geróid Iarla the castle has little history until 1569 when it was surrendered to the English. An equestrian statue of Gearóid Iarla stands in the castle grounds which was sculptured by Cliodhna Cussen, a native of the town. The area in front of the banqueting hall was the site of the Protestant Church, overlooking the Square, a spacious centrally located area in the centre of the town and the prestigious site accorded to the market house was the towns primary function.

After the Desmond rebellion the castle was granted to Sir William Courtenay, whose family were better known as the Earls of Devon. An old castle house was built adjacent to the castle in 1700 for the agents of the Courtenay's to live in, this was burned down in the civil war. On 12 October 1910 nearly all of the lands of the Courtenay estate and the town of Newcastle West was sold. The last people to have control over the land were the Curling's but after Richard Curling's death in 1943 the castle and it's grounds were sold and thus here we are today as the proud owners of what was once a very eventful period in History.

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