Irish Castles

Castles in Ireland.

Castles in County Tipperary.



Cahir Castle.
 
(Caher circular stone fort.)

Cahir castle sits on a rocky outcrop in the middle of the river Suir at the foot of the Galtee mountains.

The castle dates to the 12th century when Conor O'Brien built a keep less courtyard castle on a rocky island in the river Suir. In 1375, an Anglo-Norman family, the Butlers came into the possession of the castle, after they were granted a Barony in Cahir for their loyalty to the English crown. The Butlers have been associated with the castle ever since.

The high gatehouse tower was converted into a keep sometime in the fifteenth century by walling up the arched entryway, at the same time the the curtain wall was extended. It consists of a huge keep a furnished great hall and two courtyards. Despite its solid appearance it frequently fell to besiegers, the most notable when it surrendered to Cromwell without recourse to battle.

From 1375 until the eighteenth century the castle was occupied by a junior branch of the Butler family. Although the castle was considered impregnable, it was captured in 1599 after three days of artillery bombardment by by Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, a favorite of Queen Elizabeth. In 1647 it was again taken by Murrough O'Brien, Lord Inchiquin, and after Inchiquin's defection to the royalists it was retaken by Cromwell in 1650

Cahir Castle
Cahir

Co Tipperary
Tel +353 (52) 41011
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Web Site

The castle was restored in 1840, most would consider inappropriately.

Read about Cahir Castle on the website of Cahir Tourism.

 

 

 

Nenagh Castle.
 

(The fair or assembly.)

This castle was built sometime after 1200 by Theobald Walter progenitor of the Butler family, it is considered to be perhaps the finest example of a medieval cylindrical keep in Ireland. It remained the power base of the Butler earls of Ormond until late in the fourteenth century, after which it changed hands several times, in 1690 Ginckel one of the Williamite generals took possession of it.

Nenagh
Co Tipperary
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E Mail
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The tower is 16.75 Meters (55 Ft) in diameter and about 30.5 meters (100 Ft) high, originally it was 22.8 Meters (75 Ft) high the top portion being added in the nineteenth century. The base of the tower is battered (leaning inwards)