History of Lynch's castle
The earliest documentary evidence associating the Lynch’s with Summerhill in particular is a document of 1485, which refers to Christopher Leynce of the Knock. ‘Peter Lynch of the Knock’ was among the list of the ‘Marchers’ of the English Pale in 1524. He held his castle and lands at the Knock as tenant to his feudal chief, Wellesley, of Dangan Castle (due north of Summerhill). The Pale boundary here was defined along a line from Trim through Dangan demesne to Kilcock.
Gerald Lynch, son of Peter Lynch was the last member of that family to hold the Knock/ Summerhill. He forfeited the Summerhill estates in 1642 following the rebellion of the previous year. In June 1642 the castle, variously called Lynche’s Knock and Knocklinch was besieged by the Earl of Ormonde. All the defenders except the women were executed when the castle fell. Gerald Lynch apparently was not present during the siege. In 1652 Dungandstown and ‘the town and lands of Knock and its parcels, lately belonging to Gerald Lynds, a rebel outlawed and attained of Treason’, Agher and several more townlands were granted to Dr. Henry Jones.
The land grant was thus a reward for his services in addition to his salary and expenses during the period. In Petty’s Down Survey Map of Laracor parish, there is an exact delineation of the Knock, with its three square towers, two of which are Historical development of the area 11 Summerhill Architectural Conservation Area Statement of Character shown as unroofed and somewhat ruined.
Gerald Lynch, son of Peter Lynch was the last member of that family to hold the Knock/ Summerhill. He forfeited the Summerhill estates in 1642 following the rebellion of the previous year. In June 1642 the castle, variously called Lynche’s Knock and Knocklinch was besieged by the Earl of Ormonde. All the defenders except the women were executed when the castle fell. Gerald Lynch apparently was not present during the siege. In 1652 Dungandstown and ‘the town and lands of Knock and its parcels, lately belonging to Gerald Lynds, a rebel outlawed and attained of Treason’, Agher and several more townlands were granted to Dr. Henry Jones.
The land grant was thus a reward for his services in addition to his salary and expenses during the period. In Petty’s Down Survey Map of Laracor parish, there is an exact delineation of the Knock, with its three square towers, two of which are Historical development of the area 11 Summerhill Architectural Conservation Area Statement of Character shown as unroofed and somewhat ruined.