An underground passage runs from the castle, beneath the Byewater, to St. Mary’s Church, where it terminates in a vault under the building, the end being now walled up.

Authorities Consulted.
Lord Frederick FitzGerald, “Leixlip Castle,” and Lord Walter FitzGerald, Note, in Journal of the Archæological Society of the County Kildare.
Proceedings of Royal Society of Antiquaries.
“History of St. Wolstan’s,” in Irish Builder for 1899.
P. (Petrie?), “Town and Castle of Leixlip,” in The Irish Penny Journal.
Parliamentary Gazetteer.
Book of Survey and Distribution.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Ireland.
Book of Inquisitions of Province of Leinster.
Fiants of Elizabeth.
Transcripts of Inquisitions.
MS. Ordnance Survey of Ireland.

LISMORE CASTLE

This castle takes its name from a rath now known as Round Hill, lis meaning “fort,” and mor “great.” It is situated on the right bank of the River Blackwater, about four and a half miles north-by-east of Tallow, in the county of Waterford.

When Henry II. visited Lismore in 1171 he seems to have formed the plan of turning the ancient and famous Abbey of Mochuda into a fortified episcopal residence; hence in 1179 Milo de Cogan and Robert FitzStephen were sent by his directions to choose the site for this stronghold, which was to act as a protection against the “mere Irish.”

In all probability the tapering tower, now known as “Sir Walter Raleigh’s Tower,” formed part of the ecclesiastical buildings. It is constructed of rude rubble, and has plain loops and cornices. The entrance is on the second floor, and this leads into buildings of later date, so that it has no external doorway. A somewhat similar tower was destroyed by fire prior to 1864, which may (with the one now standing) have protected a gate between the upper and lower courts.

The outer wall, with its beehive-roofed bastions at the corners, and the old gate, which has its archway decorated with chevrons, are likely to have been of twelfth-century construction.

The entrance to the castle is by “the Riding House,” so called from its having formerly been guarded by two mounted sentries, the niches for the horses being still shown. This leads into a long shaded avenue, flanked by high walls which extends to the opening of the lower courtyard. Over the gate are the arms of the first Earl of Cork, and the motto “God’s Providence is our inheritance.” “King John’s Tower” is situated to the right of the entrance, and the “Carlisle Tower” on the left. This latter is about 240 feet in height, and was erected to commemorate the Lord Lieutenancy of the Earl of Carlisle. It is constructed of coarse rubble. The stone for the dressing of its windows and for other parts of the castle was quarried at Chatsworth, and brought over in specially chartered vessels.

The “Flag Tower” flanks the north-east angle, and the oldest wing faces east towards the garden. The upper court is reached through a passage on the west of the entrance, and here Sir Walter Raleigh’s tower is situated to the north.