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The Castle has had a long and
turbulent history. The first Castle at Kinnitty was destroyed
in 1209 and was later rebuilt by the Norman's in 1213. Later,
the Norman's were driven out by the powerful Gaelic clan, the
O'Carrolls of Ely.
During the Norman period, an
Augustinian Abbey was established near the Castle, of which the
famous High Cross and Abbey walls still remain on the estate.
1630, William O'Carroll built
a new Castle in close proximity to the old Abbey. This was confiscated
in 1641 by the English forces as part of the plantation of Offaly,
or Kings County' as it was renamed.
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