Kilkea Castle
History
History
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[thumb\|Kilkea Castle, aerial view](/wiki/File:Aerial-view-kilkea-castle.jpg "Aerial-view-kilkea-castle.jpg")
[thumb\|Kilkea Castle, rear view](/wiki/Image:Kilkea_Castle_-_geograph.org.uk_-_2329542.jpg "Kilkea Castle - geograph.org.uk - 2329542.jpg")
[Sir Walter de Riddlesford](/wiki/Sir_Walter_de_Riddlesford "Sir Walter de Riddlesford") built a [motte and bailey](/wiki/Motte_and_bailey "Motte and bailey") on the site of Kilkea Castle in 1180\. A granddaughter of his married [Maurice Fitzgerald](/wiki/Maurice_FitzGerald%2C_3rd_Lord_of_Offaly "Maurice FitzGerald, 3rd Lord of Offaly"), [3rd baron of Offaly](/wiki/3rd_baron_of_Offaly "3rd baron of Offaly"), and so the Manor of [Kilkea](/wiki/Kilkea "Kilkea") came into the possession of the Fitzgeralds and was to remain in the family for over 700 years.

[Sir Thomas de Rokeby](/wiki/Thomas_de_Rokeby_%28died_1356%29 "Thomas de Rokeby (died 1356)"), the [Justiciar of Ireland](/wiki/Justiciar_of_Ireland "Justiciar of Ireland") 1349\-56, used the castle as his military base, and died here in 1356\.

In 1414 the O'Mores and O'Dempsies wasted the [English pale](/wiki/The_Pale "The Pale"). According to [Francis Grose](/wiki/Francis_Grose "Francis Grose")'s *Antiquities of Ireland*, "to curb their outrages, Thomas Crawley, Archbishop of Dublin and Lord Justice, set out from Dublin, but proceeded no farther than Castledermot; the troops went forward under military leaders, he remaining engaged in processions and prayers for their success". According to Grose, the "enemy were defeated with great slaughter at Kilkea". Later, in 1426, [John FitzGerald, 6th Earl of Kildare](/wiki/John_FitzGerald%2C_6th_Earl_of_Kildare "John FitzGerald, 6th Earl of Kildare") reputedly "strengthened Kilkea with so many new works, that he might be said almost to have new built it".

[thumb\|Representation of the castle from *Antiquities of Ireland* (published 1791\)](/wiki/Image:Kilkea_Castle_Co_Kildare_Ireland_1792.jpg "Kilkea Castle Co Kildare Ireland 1792.jpg")
The castle is particularly associated with Gerald, the [11th Earl of Kildare](/wiki/11th_Earl_of_Kildare "11th Earl of Kildare") known as the "[Wizard Earl](/wiki/Wizard_Earl "Wizard Earl")", who became the eldest male representative of the [Geraldines](/wiki/Geraldines "Geraldines") when only 12 years of age after his half brother "[Silken Thomas](/wiki/Silken_Thomas "Silken Thomas")" the 10th Earl and five uncles were executed at Tyburn in 1537\. The "Wizard Earl" escaped Ireland, being sent to the continent to be educated, and following his return to Kildare and restoration to his titles his interest in [alchemy](/wiki/Alchemy "Alchemy") caused much interest among his neighbours around Kilkea Castle and he was said to possess magic powers. The 11th Earl (the "Wizard Earl") died in 1585 and is supposed to return to the castle every seventh year mounted on a silver\-shod white charger. In 1634 the castle was leased to the [Jesuit Order](/wiki/Jesuit_Order "Jesuit Order") by Countess Elizabeth, the widow of [Gerald FitzGerald, 14th Earl of Kildare](/wiki/Gerald_FitzGerald%2C_14th_Earl_of_Kildare "Gerald FitzGerald, 14th Earl of Kildare") and they remained there until 1646\. That year the order entertained the [Archbishop Rinuccini](/wiki/Archbishop_Rinuccini "Archbishop Rinuccini"), [Papal Nuncio](/wiki/Papal_Nuncio "Papal Nuncio") to the [Confederation of Kilkenny](/wiki/Confederation_of_Kilkenny "Confederation of Kilkenny") at Kilkea.

In the early 18th century, the [19th Earl of Kildare](/wiki/19th_Earl_of_Kildare "19th Earl of Kildare") decided to make [Carton House](/wiki/Carton_House "Carton House") the family seat and Kilkea Castle was leased to a succession of [tenants](/wiki/Tenants "Tenants"). One of these tenants was Thomas Reynolds, a Dublin silk merchant, who was a "friend" of [Lord Edward FitzGerald](/wiki/Lord_Edward_FitzGerald "Lord Edward FitzGerald"), through whom Reynolds had become a [United Irishman](/wiki/United_Irishmen "United Irishmen"), only to become an informer. His role as informer did not prevent the castle (which had been renovated shortly before) from being sacked by the military during the rebellion. After Carton House was sold in 1949, Kilkea Castle became the seat of the [8th Duke of Leinster](/wiki/8th_Duke_of_Leinster "8th Duke of Leinster").


Why was Thomas Reynolds, a tenant, treated differently than others who became informers?