The castle itself is some 400 years old but the site on which it sits is ancient, inhabited since long before records began. It was mentioned in one of the oldest vellum Irish manuscripts found, An Leabhar Breac -The Speckled Book, written in 1418, as a site occupied by monks and a place where the servants were tired of eating salmon because it was so abundant in the river. The stone salmon trap on the river bend next to the castle is one of the few in Ireland still capable of use and is centuries old. It is know that pagans and Vikings traded and lived on the site long before the monastery was founded with the construction of the old church in the 1200s. The turn of the river at Dysart is one of the highest points on the Nore with sufficient depth of the water to float a longboat.
Dysart is renowned as the childhood home of Bishop George Berkeley (pronounced "Barkley",). Bishop Berkeley is one of the most famous philosophers in the history of the Western World, and without doubt, Ireland's most famous.
Bishop George Berkeley
Born in 1685, he grew up at/nearby the castle, attended Kilkenny College and entered Trinity College Dublin in 1700. By 1710 he had written his most famous work, Principles of Human Knowledge. He travelled through Europe twice decrying what he perceived as the continent's moral decay. His observations helped generate his determination to found a new university in America. Thinking he had convinced the English parliament to financially back his plan he sailed to Rhode Island planning to start his college on the island of Bermuda. He remained in America for two years a and eight months until he despaired of ever receiving the promised grant.
He returned to Ireland, became Bishop of Cloyne and remained serving devotedly until shortly before his death in 1753. His philosophical contribution was great, his service was great and his reputation in America remains enormous. The city of Berkeley, California was named for him. He contributed to the early success of five US universities and, as the most famous European to come to America up to his time, contributed to the intellectual development of the nation.
The Castle itself is on private land and even if it were accessible would probably be impossible to explore as it is in a state of advanced disrepair. The cache co-ords give a good view although I can’t promise sunny weather and freshly mown meadows all year round! There is an excellent signposted walk along the River Nore back to Thomastown from here. This give two choices to reach the cache. A longer (60 mins) return walk from Thomastown starting and finishing from the GAA pitch or a shorter (15 mins) walk from the referenced trail head. The cache is a standard sized tab-lock box.