Castle - tower house

The National Monuments Service's description

On the N side of West Gate Street and locally known as the 'tholsel'. This four-storey tower house (ext. dims.7.65m N-S; 6.85m E-W), with base-batter, is rendered externally and, on the ground floor, internally. A large recess in the S wall indicates where wall was partially destroyed and the rebuild set back from the original face. The only surviving windows are narrow loops. There is a murder-hole over the stairs at ground-floor level. In the 17th century the tower was altered, probably to make it more commodious. In the N wall at first-floor level there is a fireplace inscribed with the date 1637 and on the third floor is a 17th-century fireplace with chamfered mantle. In the 18th century a clock-tower and lantern were added (Craig 1982, 314). The original spiral stairs, up to third-floor level, has been replaced with a stone and wooden staircase. In recent times the building was used to house a tourist office. (Farrelly and FitzPatrick 1993).

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 26 August 2011

References

Craig, M. 1982 The architecture of Ireland from the earliest times to 1880. Dublin. Eason and Son Ltd. London. Batsford.

Farrelly, J. and FitzPatrick, E. 1993 Urban archaeological survey - county Tipperary (South Riding) (2 vols.). Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.