Castle - tower house

The National Monuments Service's description

Rectangular tower (9.8m N-S; 10.5m E-W) standing directly on N bank of Glencorbry River close to its confluence with the Shannon. Illustration of siege in 1600 (Donovan and Edwards 1997, cover) shows 5-storey tower standing at SW corner of rectangular bawn- tower now stands to just 3 storeys and there is no trace of bawn (LI017-022002-). Most of external elevations above ground-floor level now masked by ivy.
Tower has two external doorways in N wall: near W corner at ground level and near E corner just below 1st-floor level; both doors have lost their surround. Lower doorway gives entry to ground-floor chamber (6.5m E-W; 4.9m N-S) which has window in centre of S and W walls: each has deep square-set embrasure covered by segmental wicker-centered vault; S window has single flat-headed light, other light missing. Chamber formerly covered by wicker centered vault (axis E-W), now entirely collapsed. Access not gained to upper floors, and following description based on visual inspection from ground level. Higher external doorway gives entry on E side to base of spiral stairs rising in NE corner of tower; judging by drawing of 1600 (ibid.) this formerly rose to full height of tower and gave entry onto wall walk via cap house. Near base of stairs was door, now almost entirely missing, giving entry to 1st-floor chamber at its NE corner. Chamber has central window in each wall, with similar embrasures to those on ground-floor; lights missing except in N window which has single flat-headed opening. On S side of E window embrasure is entry into lintelled mural chamber with garderobe at S end. Second-floor chamber is directly under a rounded wicker-centered vault (axis E-W) which has partially collapsed; blocked-up window in W wall; centre of E wall is missing revealing lintelled mural passage which must have provided access to chamber from spiral stairs.
A castle of the Knights of Glin here from the 13th century (Westropp 1906-7, 238-9) but nothing of the present remains earlier than 15th century. Besieged and taken by Sir George Carew in 1600 (ibid.). Castle was later restored to Knights of Glin and repaired judging by inscribed plaque, with date of 1615, said to come from fireplace in castle but now inserted into gateway at Glin Castle country house (Spellisy 1989, 182). Late 18th century illustration shows tower already reduced to present height and with no trace of the bawn (Manning 1998, 130-1).

Compiled by: Denis Power

Date of upload: 26 August 2011

References

Westropp, T.J. 1906-7 The ancient castles of the county of Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 26, 54-264.

Spellisy, S. 1989 Limerick, the rich land. The Celtic Bookshop.

Manning, C. 1998 Some unpublished Austin Cooper illustrations. Journal of Irish Archaeology 9, 127-34.