ðə fˈɜːst kˈæsəl ɔnðə ɡɹˈaʊndz, ʌvwˈɪtʃ nˈoʊ tɹˈeɪs ɹᵻmˈeɪnz, wʌz bˈɪlt ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti tˈuː baɪ ˈiːðɚ hjˈuː də lˈeɪsi, lˈɔːɹd ʌv mˈiːθ, ɔːɹ hɪz tˈɛnənt ˈædəm də fˈiːpoʊ.
The first castle on the grounds, of which no trace remains, was built in 1172 by either Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath, or his tenant Adam de Phepoe.