Castle - motte, Killamery, Co. Kilkenny

Castle – motte, Killamery, Co. Kilkenny

At the eastern edge of Killamery village in County Kilkenny, about 100 metres north-northeast of the medieval church and graveyard, stands an imposing earthen motte that tells the story of Norman influence in medieval Ireland.

Castle - motte, Killamery, Co. Kilkenny

This circular mound, measuring roughly 29 metres across at its base and rising 4.5 metres high, dominates the local landscape with commanding views to the north and west. Now heavily overgrown with trees and scrub, the motte’s summit spans about 18.5 metres in diameter, with some large stones protruding from its southeastern quadrant, possibly remnants of former structures.

The historical significance of this site extends beyond its physical presence. Medieval records identify Killamery as a town within the county of Kilkenny, and the motte itself likely served as a manorial centre. The land’s ownership tells a tale of feudal Ireland; acquired by the Earls Marshall in the early 13th century, the townland of Killamery was subsequently granted as a feudal tenancy to the Tobins, also known as the De St. Albins, who held the lordship of Kaemshinagh. This transfer of land and power reflects the complex web of Norman and Anglo-Norman nobility that shaped medieval Irish society.



The motte’s strategic placement takes advantage of the natural topography, with the ground dipping at its southern base before rising gradually southward. While the land rises to the east and south, potentially limiting visibility in those directions, the elevated position would have provided both defensive advantages and a symbol of authority over the surrounding territory. Today, this grass-covered monument stands as a tangible link to Killamery’s medieval past, when it served as a centre of Norman administrative and military power in this corner of Kilkenny.

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Empey, C.A. 1990 County Kilkenny in the Anglo-Norman period. In Nolan, W. and Whelan, K. (eds), Kilkenny: History and Society, 74-95. Dublin. Geography Publications. Carrigan, Rev. W. 1905 (Reprint 1981) The history and antiquities of the diocese of Ossory, 4 vols. Kilkenny. Roberts Books and Wellbrook Press.
Killamery, Co. Kilkenny
52.4762382, -7.44489043
52.4762382,-7.44489043
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