Dysart Castle

History

Dysart Castle is most famous as the childhood home of the Irish philosopher George Berkeley, who lived from 1685 to 1753. Berkeley is the namesake for Berkeley, California, and the Berkeley Library at Trinity College Dublin. There is some disagreement about whether he was actually born at the castle in 1684, but he definitely grew up on the Dysart grounds, in the family home that stood right next to the castle. Today, the property is in private hands, and the castle itself is in dire need of repairs.

The site lies south of Thomastown, nestled low along a sharp bend in the River Nore. Over the centuries, it has contained a medieval church, the castle, and various other buildings. The church and castle were originally connected, but they were eventually separated by a gap of 21 feet. Dysart Castle was a small structure, described as "rudely built." It was divided by a stone arch, and a path on the second floor led directly into the church.

In 1193, Geoffrey fitz Robert, the founder of the Priory of Kells, granted the lands and buildings of Dysart to that priory. A charter from the time indicates the place was called Dysart of St. Mo-Colm-óg, or Colman, meaning St. Colman was its patron. The church, castle, and surrounding land remained under the Priory of Kells until the priory was suppressed in 1540.