A branch of the Dillons was granted the lands of Portlick and probably constructed the medieval motte located nearby.
[1] From then on they resided at the castle until 1696 when Garrett Dillon, former Recorder of Dublin, was attainted under the Articles of Limerick and forced to flee to France, where he died a few years later.
[2] According to articles in The Westmeath Independent, Portlick Castle "was burned down on Wednesday, July 17, 1861", with loss of thousands of pounds worth of plates, furniture and books, and was uninhabitable when bought in 1988 by the Australian poet Luke Whitington, an art patron and an experienced restorer of derelict buildings in Italy.
[3] He extensively re-roofed and refurbished Portlick's buildings,[4] with final council certification as fit for habitation obtained in 2000.
[5] In 2012, the entire castle could be rented during forty-six weeks in the year for 1,000 euros per night, and was also for sale, including 27 acres of land.