Editing Lismore Castle (section)

==Early history==
[[File:Lismore Castle. Co. Waterford LOC ppmsca.52647.jpg|thumb|Castles of Munster, Lismore, Waterford]]
Built as the sister castle to [[Ardfinnan Castle]] in 1185 by the Lord of Ireland, [[John, King of England|Prince John of England]] to guard the river crossing, the castle site was originally occupied by [[Lismore Abbey]], an important monastery and seat of learning established in the early 7th century. 

It was still an ecclesiastical centre when [[Henry II of England|King Henry II of England]] stayed here in 1171, and except for a brief period after 1185 (when he had assigned his son King John of England to build a 'castellum' here) when it served as the episcopal residence of the local bishop. 

It was a possession of the [[Earl of Desmond|Earls of Desmond]], whose lands were broken up during the plantations following the killing of [[Gerald FitzGerald, 14th Earl of Desmond]], in 1583.

In 1589, Lismore was leased and later acquired by [[Sir Walter Raleigh]]. Raleigh sold the property during his imprisonment for High Treason in 1602 to [[Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork|Richard Boyle]], who was later made the 1st [[Earl of Cork]] in 1620.