Motte-and-bailey castle
Magner is one of the smallest Irish clans with only a few thousand members living around the world today. The clan was founded by Sir William of Magnel, a Norman knight who came to Ireland in 1183 as part of the Norman invasion of Ireland in the late 12th Century A.D. William Magnel built a castle in the site of a pre-existing Celtic Motte-and-bailey castle along the Keatra River in Northern County Cork, and established a Norman settlement that became known as Magnel's town, and eventually Magnelstown. The name, "Magnel" was difficult for speakers of the local Irish dialect to pronounce, and the name evolved into "Maingneir," which was later shortened to "Magner." The castle and the town it supported both became known as "Castlemagner."