Kilkea Castle was a medieval stronghold of the Fitzgeralds,
earls of Kildare. Sir Walter de Riddlesford built a mote and
bailey there in 1181. A grand daughter of his married Maurice
Fitzgerald, 3rd baron of Offaly, and so the Manor of Kilkea came
into the possession of the Fitzgeralds and was to remain in the
family for over 700 years.