Castle - motte

The National Monuments Service's description

In low-lying valley of the Clashawley river which runs c. 20m W of base of motte. Rathcool castle (TS070-007001-) and possible 17th-century house (TS070-007002-) is located c. 25m to the NNW. Rathcool church and graveyard are located 350m to the S. Empey (1985, 74) mentions that the sheriff of Tipperary in 1297, Walter le Bret, was robbed of £100 from his manor of Rathcool. There is a ridge running N-S to E of motte. A well-preserved, flat-topped motte (basal diam. 32.2m N-S; 33.8m E-W; H 6.4-7.4m H), the oval summit (diam. 10.8m N-S; 10.2m E-W) is enclosed by a low stone wall, (H 0.52-0.65m) two courses high, obscured by grass. There is a steep drop on all but the N side where there is a more gentle slope. There is a beech tree growing on the summit and a post and wire fence around the base c. 3-10 from edge. There is no visible evidence of a bailey, the flat ground to the N or S could have been utilised, the former is now occupied by Rathcool castle and possible 17th-century house and landscaped garden, while the area to the S was seen as a likely candidate by Lyons (ITA files, N.D.).

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of revised upload: 6 March 2012

References

Empey, C.A. 1985 The Norman period, 1185-1500. In Nolan, W. (ed.), Tipperary: History and Society, 71-91. Dublin. Geography Publications.