Castletownroche

Castletown Roche ( Irish: Baile Chaisleán to Róistigh ) is a village in County Cork in the south of Ireland. The neighboring towns are Doneraile, Kildorrery, Glanworth, Ballyhooly and Killavullen. Castletownroche is located on the River Awbeg Blackwater Valley about 13 km from Mallow away. The village had 398 inhabitants in 2006.

History

Before the Anglo-Norman family Roche here built their castle that gave the city its name, Castletownroche under the Irish name Dún Chruadha was known. This name indicates that there was already an attachment ( Dun ) here in earlier times.

Like most of the Norman nobles, who came with William the Conqueror to England in the 12th century by Richard de Clare, called Strongbow, translated to Ireland, where land acquired, also the members of the de la Roche family fraternized with the native aristocracy and soon took the Irish interests rather than those of their relatives in England and France. They were more Irish than the Irish Themselves ( " more Irish than the Irish themselves ", Irish: Nios Gaelaí ná na Gaeil iad féin ) and came up with pages of Irish rebellions in conflict with the English king. Finally, the Roches were expelled in the 17th century by their possessions. Lieutenant Colonel John Widenham received in 1666 the castle as a reward for his military successes in the service of the Crown. Castle Roche was renamed Castle Widenham.

Attractions

Attractions in Castletown Roche, the castle Blackwater Castle, which dates back in parts to the noble family of Roche, the publicly accessible garden Annes Grove Gardens and the ruins of Bridgetown Abbey, a former Augustinian abbey dating from the 13th century. Bridgetown Abbey, also called Bridgetown Priory, located near the confluence of the Abwbeg and the Blackwater River. Under Henry VIII, the abbey in 1540 was abandoned.

Traffic

Castletownroche had a rail link, the station was opened on 1 May 1861 but closed again since 27 March 1967. Castletownroche is located on the N72, a national secondary road which links the N25 in County Waterford in east-west direction with the N70 in County Kerry.

Personalities

• Richard John Uniacke (1753-1830), born in Castletown Roche, lawyer and politician in the North American colonies
• Thomas P. Keenan, was buried in Castletown Roche, composer of the song The Boys From The County Armagh; The Old Rustic Bridge his song by the Mill after a traditional melody describes a bridge at Castletown Roche