Killua Castle
Encyclopedia
Clonmellon
Clonmellon is a small town in County Westmeath, Ireland situated between Kells in County Meath and Delvin in Westmeath.-Buildings of note:* Ballinlough Castle* Clonmellon Market Yard* Killua Castle, Clonmellon Westmeath-See also:...
town, in north County Westmeath
County Westmeath
-Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...
. The castle and the obelisk
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
are separated by some 200 m to 300m, and belonged to the Chapman family more than two centuries ago, beginning with Captain Benjamin Chapman
Benjamin Chapman
Captain Benjamin Chapman was the patriarch of the Chapman Baronets of Killua Castle.Chapman was a Cornet in the regiment of cavalry raised by Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin. He was later promoted to Captain, and served in the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland...
, patriarch of the Chapman Baronets
Chapman Baronets
There have been three Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Chapman, one in the Baronetage of Great Britain, one in the Baronetage of Ireland and one in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom...
of Killua Castle. From here, the Chapmans administered the surrounding farm lands of some 9000 acres (36.4 km²) in the 18th century.
Raleigh Obelisk
The obelisk marks the position where Sir Walter Raleigh planted some of the first potatoes that he imported to Ireland. Antoine ParmentierAntoine-Augustin Parmentier
Antoine-Augustin Parmentier is remembered as a vocal promoter of the potato as a food source in France and throughout Europe...
who promoted the cultivation of potato
Potato
The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...
es for human consumption and the Spanish conquistadores who first imported them from South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
along the south and west Irish coast are also associated with Irish potato promotion. However, it is uncertain who is initially responsible of the first potato plantation in Ireland, even though Raleigh is frequently credited with this milestone in Irish history. The obelisk erected by Sir Thomas Chapman in 1810, marks the Raleigh contribution to Ireland in providing stable nourishment to the farming/working class land tenants.
Sir Thomas Chapman, Baronet, in the year 1810 is believed to have sited the Obelisk upon the ground where Sir Walter Raleigh first planted the potato tubers in Ireland.
The inscription on the obelisk currently reads "Sir Walter G. Raleigh," but there is no other evidence that Raleigh had a middle name, and the "G" appears to be vandalism added after the original inscription.
Restoration
The castle is currently being restored by Brouder, of AtheaAthea
Athea suffered severe flooding in the summer of 2008 with residences sustaining serious damage especially along the river Galey. Athea National School also incured minor damage.-Landscape:...
, Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Founder, Cornelius J. Brouder, II is also the father of Irish American notables Christina Brouder and Corina Brouder
Corina Brouder
Corina Brouder was born in The Bronx, New York City. As a child, her sister, Christina, spent some time in hospital after a hit and run incident, and Corina and her other siblings started entertaining her recovering sister and the other children in the ward...
.
Other Westmeath Castles
- Ballinlough CastleBallinlough CastleSituated in an area of County Westmeath, near the rural town of Clonmellon is Ballinlough Castle. This old castle is perched upon a hill overlooking two of the Westmeath lakes. The 17th century castle is the home of Sir Nicholas and Lady Nugent....
- Delvin Castle
- Knockdrin CastleKnockdrinKnockdrin is an area north of Mullingar, in County Westmeath, Ireland. It is home of the Westmeath Hunt, and its most notable building is Knockdrin Castle.-Castle:...
- Tullynally CastleTullynally CastleTullynally Castle is a castle situated some 2km from Castlepollard on the Coole village road in County Westmeath, Ireland. The famous British Army general, Sir Edward Pakenham GCB, was born and raised in the house...
- Tyrrellspass CastleTyrrellspass CastleTyrrellspass Castle, dating back to circa 1411, is situated in the town of Tyrrellspass, Co. Westmeath, on the west side of the village. It is the only remaining castle of the Tyrrells, who came to Ireland around the time of the Norman Invasion....