These Irish name elements are associated with this record in the Logainm glossary.
An element’s translation is a clue, rather than a complete explanation of the name. Its form and meaning depend on local history and the full Irish name.
Recorded forms
Baile Chaisleáin an Róistigh· Irish · main form · validated name
Castletownroche· English · main form
Place & story
The castle above the Awbeg
Blackwater Castle was a seat of the Roche family. In 1650, Lord Broghill's forces bombarded it and the garrison surrendered. The Roche lands were confiscated and granted to John Widenham, whose family retained the property into the twentieth century. The later name Castle Widenham records that change of ownership.[2]
The Book of Fermoy
The Roche family supported the production of the manuscript known as the Book of Fermoy. It contains genealogy, poetry and narrative material associated with their circle, alongside other texts brought together in the surviving volume. The Irish Script on Screen catalogue identifies the manuscript as Royal Irish Academy MS 23 E 29 and dates most of it to the fifteenth century. This material links the castle with scribes and literary patronage, extending its history beyond defence and the control of surrounding estates.[3][4]
Folklore & tradition
Stories about the sheela-na-gig
A carved sheela-na-gig associated with the castle has been recorded in several locations, including beside the river, near a holy well and within the castle grounds. The castle's heritage account also records a local story that the stone was cast into the river to rid a household of bad luck. Its authors explicitly state that they cannot establish when, or whether, this happened. The distinction is useful: the figure's changing recorded locations belong to its material history, while the explanation involving misfortune remains an unverified local legend.[3]
Castletownroche — Census 2016 settlement footprint
Population within 2016 settlement boundaries
498people · 2022
Both counts use the 2016 settlement boundary, allowing like-for-like comparison. CSO supplies the 2022 count on this older boundary for comparison only. The official 2022 Built Up Area has different boundaries.
View population figures
Castletownroche — Census 2016 settlement footprint — census population
Castletownroche, Cork — Census town, CSO 2006 report
2002–2006: census town
398people · 2006
These are the historical areas published in the 2006 census report. Boundaries may differ between censuses and from modern settlements. Legal towns, environs and suburbs are shown separately; none has been combined into a modern settlement total.
View population figures
Castletownroche, Cork — Census town, CSO 2006 report — census population
Castletownroche, Cork — Census town, CSO 1996 report
1991–1996: census town
421people · 1996
These are the historical areas published in the 1996 census report. Boundaries may differ between censuses and from modern settlements. Legal towns, environs and suburbs are shown separately; none has been combined into a modern settlement total.
View population figures
Castletownroche, Cork — Census town, CSO 1996 report — census population
Castletownroche, Cork — Census town, CSO 1986 report
1981–1986: census town
474people · 1986
Figures cover the historical town area printed in the 1986 report. Boundaries may have changed between censuses. Legal town, environs and suburb totals remain separate and differ from modern settlement boundaries.
View population figures
Castletownroche, Cork — Census town, CSO 1986 report — census population
These figures use different area definitions. Read the boundary note before comparing them.
Castletownroche, Cork
Published census settlement populations
454people · 2016
Settlement boundaries changed during this period. Differences may reflect boundary changes as well as population change. Where a 2011 legal-town-and-environs count is shown, it has not been recalculated onto the 2016 settlement boundary.
Church of the Immaculate Conception, Castletownroche illustration: based on a Church of the Immaculate Conception, Castletownroche by Jonathan Thacker. AI-assisted watercolour and ink adaptation; cream paper margins added, incidental clutter omitted and fine details simplified. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.
placenames