Castletownroche

Castletownroche (Irish: Baile Chaisleán an Róistigh) is a village on the N72 National secondary road in County Cork, Ireland. In ancient times, it was known in Irish as Dún Chruadha, meaning Cruadha's Fort. Castletownroche is located on the River Awbeg in the Blackwater Valley about eight miles (13 km) from Mallow.
In 1999, the annual National Ploughing Championship was held here.
History
de la Roch
The first historical record about Castletownroche is from the late 13th century when the Anglo-Norman family of de la Roche established a fortress here. They were descendants of Richard FitzGodebert (Richard, son of Godebert) who came with Strongbow to Ireland. Their family had a castle in Pembrokeshire that was built upon an outcrop of stone and they became known as FitzGodebert de la Roch (FitzGodebert of the Rock). From that, their Hiberno-Norman descendants were known as "de la Roch" and finally, Roche. It is from this element...