Sir Thomas Roper, 1st Viscount Baltinglass

Lease holder of what later became known as the "Herbert Estates," Castleisland, County Kerry, Ireland

Castleisland or Oilean Chiarraí (The Island of Kerry), was once the main town and the centre of Desmond power in Kerry, getting its name from the Castle built by Geoffrey Maurice (or de Marisco) in 1226 by the river Maine. It formed a line of Norman Castles along the River Maine forming a defence between the Normans of North Kerry and the native Irish of South Kerry. It was a massive structure, stretching northwards from the bank of the river, to the foot of Maum Hill, a distance of well over a mile and the same distance east along the bank of the Maine. It became the seat of the Earls of Desmond and remained in their possession until 1583 as part of the plantation of Munster. It was destroyed in 1600 but was later partially restored. The Castle and lands were leased to Sir Thomas Roper and reverted back to Sir Thomas Herbert in 1640 [see below]. During this time the castle gradually fell into ruins with very little left today. The main surviving part today is the de Marisco tower located behind the terrace of houses on the Killarney Road.

[The Herberts were granted land in Kerry during the reign of Elizabeth I. Two members of the family received lands in Kerry after the Desmond rebellion, Sir William Herbert received over 13,000 acres while Charles Herbert received over 3000 acres. The Herbert who eventually settled there was Thomas, descended from a family in Montgomery, Powys, in Wales]