CastleRoche,alsoknownasCastlerocheorRocheCastle,liesinthehillycountryside,westofthehamletofBallinfuil,northwestofthecityofDundalk,inCountyLouthinIreland.CastleRochewasbuiltin1236byLadyRohesiadeVerdun.Shereputedlythrewthebuilderofthecastleoutofawindowafteritscompletiontopreservethecastle'ssecrets.ThisblockedupwindowisstillknownastheMurderWindow.HersonJohnmadealotofalterationstothecastle.InearlyrecordsCastleRochewascalledCastellumdeRupeorCastleontheRockforobviousreasons.ThisNormancastle,situatedonarockyhilltop,stoodontheborderoftheprovinceofUlsterandtheAnglo-NormanterritoryknownasThePale.ItcontrolledapassintoArmagh.CastleRochehasatriangularlayout,determinedbytheshapeoftherockitstandson.Itisalargeenclosurewithaformidabletwin-toweredgatehouselinkedtoaonceimpressiveGreatHall.Thereisacliffontwosidesandthethirdisprotectedbyarock-cutditchwhichwasprobablyspannedbyadrawbridge.Atpresenttherearen'tmuchremainsofbuildingsinsidethecastle.