The most notable of these lost structures was Cloney Castle, which once stood as a prominent feature of the landscape. According to historical records from 1837, compiled by O’Conor for the Ordnance Survey Letters, the castle was still maintaining its roof at that time and had been converted into a dwelling, with a house attached that was occupied by a family named Kelly.

Today, visitors to the site will find no visible traces of the castle above ground; its stones and foundations have been completely absorbed into the agricultural development of the area. The transformation from medieval fortification to domestic dwelling, and finally to farmland, reflects the changing fortunes and priorities of rural Ireland over the centuries. What was once a defensive structure, likely built to control and protect the surrounding territory, gradually evolved to meet the practical needs of its inhabitants before disappearing entirely from view.

The area retains other historical connections, however. Just 75 metres south of where the castle once stood, you can still find a church and graveyard that date from the same historical period. These surviving structures provide a tangible link to Cloney’s medieval past, even as the castle itself has vanished beneath centuries of agricultural development. The site serves as a reminder of how Ireland’s rural landscapes often conceal layers of history, with ancient fortifications and settlements lying hidden beneath modern farms and fields.