Colonel Richard Plunkett, of Dunsoghly, was an active supporter of the Lords of the Pale in 1641, and a reward of £400 was offered for his head by the Lords Justices and Council.
In 1657 the Down Survey says that the “chiefest places in the Barony of Coolock are Malahide and Dunsoghly.” “There is in Dunsoghly a good castle, and a house adjoining it (James Plunkett).”
The House of Commons granted Sir Henry Tichbourne £2,000 in lieu of his wardship of Nicholas Plunkett, of Dunsoghly, in 1666. This Nicholas was succeeded by his son, at whose death the property was divided between his three daughters, and the castle is still in possession of their descendants.
The fortress is said to have been bombarded in Cromwell’s time from a mound near, which is now occupied by a dwelling-house, and a long crack made in the south wall by the cannon is still visible.
The castle was inhabited up to the middle of the eighteenth century.
J. D’Alton, “History of County Dublin.” Proceedings of Royal Archæological Association of Ireland. W. Wakeman, “Rambles near Dublin,” in Dublin _Evening Telegraph_ Reprints. Carew MSS. State Documents
Situated on the Slaney, about twelve miles north-by-west of Wexford, in the Barony of Ballaghkeen, is the town of Enniscorthy. The origin of the name does not seem to admit of a satisfactory explanation. Some writers say that it was originally Corthæ, and the capital of Ptolemy’s Coriandi. Hence the prophesy, “Enniscorthy was, Dublin is, and Drogheda will be.” Again Enis-scorteach, signifying “the stud-house pastorage,” has been mentioned as a possible explanation.
The castle is a massive square structure, flanked by three round towers. It is in good preservation. Two of the towers can still be ascended.
It is built of hard blue slate, dug on the spot, and the cases of the doors and windows are of grey grit stone.
It is believed that the manor of Enniscorthy was granted by Strongbow to Maurice de Prendergast, and that he commenced to erect the castle in 1199, it being finished by his son Philip in 1205 or 1206.
Again, it is stated to have passed to the De Prendergasts through the De Quincey family, and that it was originally erected by Raymond le Gros.
Between 1225 and 1228 it was walled in and entrenched by Gerald Prendergast, who died in 1251.