Information about Rinvyle Castle

Information from O'Donovan's Field Name Books

Standard Name:
Rinvyle Castle
Irish Form of Name:
Rín a Mhaoile
Translation:
point of Mael (a man’s name)
Civil Parish:
Ballynakill in the barony of Ballynahinch
View all place names in this civil parish.
Other Forms of the Name with authority source (if provided) in italics:
Rinvyle Castle
Renvile Castle Inhabitants
Cuslaun Rhin a weela (Irish) Inhabitants
Description:
It is said that this castle was first commenced by Joyce, who was killed by O’Flagherty. Latter built the remainder of it and afterwards lived in it. After him it was again occupied by Jas. Morgan, Esq., about 1730. Its breadth is about 33 feet and its length about 100 feet. Its walls are about 10 ft. high and at W. end of it stands a strong tower of a square form about 30 feet each side and 50 feet high. It is also said to be Granua Wale (in English Grace O’Malley) who demolished it by a shot from a Frigate.
Situation:
In the N. corner of Ranrauwer townland, at the sea shore.
Information from the Ordnance Survey Letters:
The Ordnance Survey Letters are letters between John O'Donovan and his supervisor, Thomas Larcom, regarding the work of compiling the Field Books. These letters provide further discussion on many of the places listed in the Field Books.
References to this place can be found in the following letter.
  • Volume 3 page 26

Townland Information

What is a townland?:
A townland is one of the smallest land divisions in Ireland. They range in size from a few acres to thousands of acres. Many are Gaelic in origin, but some came into existence after the Norman invasion of 1169
Townland:
Rinvyle Castle is in Kanrawer townland.

Information From Maps

Original OS maps at the Ordnance Survey of Ireland website.
(Click on place name to view original map in new window.)
This link is not a link to the townland that you are currently researching; however, if you follow this link, you will see a search box near the top of the page which you can use to search for your townland.
Having followed this link, you will see several expandable links - each link has a plus sign on its left - on the top left of the page. Expand 'Base Information and Mapping'. Now it is possible to select the maps that you wish to view by clicking on the checkbox that is on the left of each map; this list includes the original Ordnance Survey maps.
You can select more than one map and you can use a slider to make one map more transparent than another. This allows you to view what features were present or absent at different points in time.
(This map will display in a new window.)
Rinvyle Castle
Information from the National Monuments Service.
(This information will display in a new window.):
You can use this link to view a map of archaelogical features.
This link brings you to a website wherein you will have to search for your townland.
Archaeological map from the National Monuments Service
If you notice any inaccuracies with any of the above, please e-mail us.
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