castles historical tipperary

A late Elizabethan or early Jacobean tower-house (now used as a cow-house), surrounded by one of the most extensive and best-preserved bawns in the country, with massive towers at the corners. Little is known of its history, other than a man named Keating acquired it in the mid 18th century, but on non-payment of rent, he was forcefully evicted by the owners, the Everards. Later a family called Jolly lived in it....

This is an excellent preserved ruin of an 12th century castle. Which was later restored in the 16th century, by John Kenny. During the rebuilding a mass book, that dates back to the 9th century, was found. This is named as the "Stowe Missal". 

The four-storey tower-house stands in a bawn with a round-headed doorway. The second storey has a good fireplace, and the third floor is vaulted. An unusual feature is the window with remains of tracery on the third floor abov...

The south end of the castle is a 15th or 16th century tower-house with rounded corners. It has 4 storeys, with vaults on the first and third storeys. In the 17th century, windows and a fine fireplace with initials of one of the Purcell family were inserted.

In the first half of the 17th century the Purcells added the northern part, with towers at opposite corners. It was lighted by mullioned windows, and a number of fireplaces are still retained in its walls. Col Nicholas Purcell,...

Castle:
The Castle was allegedly built by King John in 1213, but was probably not erected until the middle of the 13th century. An enclosure, reached from the street through a 19th century gateway, was surrounded by a strong wall with one rectangular and two D-shaped towers in it. At one corner is a tall rectangular tower with a fine vault and a fireplace on the second floor. The upper floors have an unusual selection of passages and stairs leading to various defensive positions...

The present massive tower, or donjon, was originally one of three towers interspersed in the curtain wall of a strong Norman castle which was also guarded by two semicircular towers and a gatehouse (parts of which remain to the south of the tower). The tower has 5 storeys, and the walls are up to 20 feet thick. A southern window-niche opening off the second floor has Romanesque decoration on the inside, while there is early Gothic decoration on a chimney piece in the floor above.

The...

A spectacular group of medieval buildings set on an outcrop of limestone in the Golden Vale including the 12th century round tower, High Cross and Romanesque Chapel, 13th century Gothic cathedral, 15th century castle and the restored Hall of the Vicars.

Features include an audio visual show entitled "Strongholds of Faith", which is available in English, French, Italian and German as well as various other exhibitions.

Please note that this is a very busy site and visitors m...

Cullahill Castle sits atop a natural rock. The ruins include those of a 17th century stone house with intact corbels, stone lintels, and a fireplace with an oven. Richard Burke was the owner in 1654....

Moycarkey Castle was a Cantwell fortress, consisting of tower house, 7.6m high bawn walls with small towers in opposite corners....

Nenagh Castle
Nenagh Castle was built by Theobold Walter, a nephew of Thomas a Becket, the martyr. It became a residence of the Butler family, until they moved to Gowran, Kilkenny in the 14th century. It fell into the hands of the MacIlbrien family, until 1533 when Sir Piers Butler returned to reclaim it. But in 1548, the O'Carroll with his supporters, burned it. The Butlers did eventually regain their position as owners, but the castle was given to Lady Dingwall.

It w...

This is one of the few castles in Ireland which is round. It was built by the Purcells in the 16th century. The walls splay at the bottom. Of the two ceilings which are preserved, one is a flat corbelled ceiling, the other is vaulted. The castle has 5 storeys, turrets, a broken fireplace in the 3rd storey, a 'murder hole' above the door to drop things on unwelcome intruders, and a small hole for muskets at one window....