This spot, annotated as the ‘Site of Rockfield Ho.’, represents what may have been the location of Rockfield House, though no traces remain visible today. Modern satellite imagery from 2011-13 shows nothing but empty fields where this structure once stood, leaving only historical records and old maps to tell its story.

The site’s history stretches back to medieval times when this area was known as Lemhercahold, with a castle called Lermerichaell possibly standing on these very grounds. The transformation from its Gaelic origins to the anglicised ‘Rockfield’ occurred sometime after 1700, reflecting the broader cultural and political changes sweeping through Ireland during this period. The medieval castle connection adds another layer to the site’s significance, suggesting continuous occupation or strategic importance spanning centuries.

A fascinating glimpse into the property’s early modern history comes from a 1608 royal grant, when King James I regranted the estate to Giles Herbert, son of Charles Herbert, one of the Munster undertakers involved in the plantation of escheated lands. The grant specifically mentions ‘the castle of Lindericke’, which was to be renamed Ballyamckellicott, and came with an abatement of quit rent; a financial incentive typical of the crown’s efforts to encourage English settlement in Ireland. Whether Rockfield House was built directly atop the medieval castle’s foundations or nearby remains unknown, but the continuity of occupation at this location speaks to its enduring importance in the local landscape.