Site of Castle, Castletown, Co. Laois
Sitting atop a low hill in the rolling countryside of County Laois, the remains of Castletown Castle offer commanding views across the surrounding landscape.
Site of Castle, Castletown, Co. Laois
The hillock itself shows signs of deliberate modification, with its base partially scarped and its summit flattened, suggesting this defensive position was carefully chosen and enhanced. Today, what survives of the castle lies within a circular stone-walled enclosure that serves as a private burial ground for the White family, established in the late 19th or early 20th century.
The visible castle remains consist primarily of the northwest wall footings, stretching about 10 metres in length with walls roughly 0.9 metres thick. Partial returns of the north and south walls, measuring 4.8 and 3.7 metres respectively, can still be traced, suggesting these may be the remnants of a tower house. At the north angle, a collapsed section of ivy-covered masonry stands 2.7 metres high, though no architectural details are discernible. Outside the burial ground’s enclosing wall, evidence of a berm running from west to north hints at what might have been a circular bawn; a fortified enclosure that would have protected the castle and its inhabitants.
The site has passed through several hands over the centuries. According to the Ordnance Survey Field Name Books from 1838, the castle originally belonged to the Codies before passing to the Griffin family. The current burial ground, measuring 28 metres north to south and 31 metres east to west, is planted with ornamental trees from its Victorian conversion. While tree roots have caused some collapse on the eastern side and a small gateway provides access from the southwest, the site maintains its atmospheric quality as both a medieval ruin and a Victorian memorial space.





