Fethard Castle

Fiodh Ard = High wood

Norman town with 2 M.P.s (1613 and 1800). Church 9th century, castle residence of Bishop of Ferns (1230-c 1540), current castle 1400s.

fethard

A fifteenth century castle built on the remains of a much earlier site. Following the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in Ireland in 1169, the district in which Fethard is situated was granted to a knight named Harvey de Montmorency. He, in turn, granted it to Christ Church, Canterbury, England. In 1200A.D. Canterbury ordered the construction of a castle at Fethard and a court to the north of the church, presumably on the site of the present castle