Castle - tower house

The National Monuments Service's description

Killinure house was built in the late 18th century incorporating part of the medieval castle of Killinure which is depicted on the 1653-9 Down Survey maps of Bunowen parish and the barony map of Kilkenny West (NLI, MS 723-4). The medieval castle stood on the lands belonging to George Fitzgerald, 16th Earl of Kildare. The terrier of the Down Survey map of Bunowen parish stated that on the ‘Landes of Killenure Standes a Castle’ (ibid.). In 1837 it was recorded that a 'small portion of Killinure castle still remains, occupying a site on a bold and picturesque eminence over the Inner Lake, and adjoining Killinure House' (Lewis 1837, 205). Killinure House stands on elevated land overlooking Killinure bay 350m to SSE at the S end of Lough Ree. Bunowen church (WM022-031001-) and graveyard (WM022-031001-) lies 1km to the SE and Bunowen Castle (WM022-022---) stands 1.7km to ENE.
Killinure House described by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) as a, ‘Detached seven-bay two-storey country house, built c.1790, having a projecting Doric porch to the centre of the front façade (south) and full height three-bay bows to either end of the front façade (east and west). Now in use as a hotel and as a golf clubhouse and extended to the rear (north) and to the northeast and southeast. Set back from road in own grounds, now a golf course, overlooking Killinure Lough/Lough Ree to the south. Original main entrance to the north, now out of use. Modern entrance to the northeast. The present house (Reg. No. 15402209) occupies the site of an earlier castle at Killinure indicated on the Down Survey map of the area, c.1656-8, it is possible that it contains fabric from this earlier structure’ (www.buildingsofireland.ie).

Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien

Date of upload: 22 December 2017

References

Lewis, S. 1837 A topographical dictionary of Ireland, 2 vols. London. Lewis and Co.

NLI, MS 723-4 - National Library of Ireland, The parish maps of the Down Survey for the County of Westmeath, attested by W. Petty, in 1659. Copied by Daniel O'Brien. A set of 67 maps with accompanying terriers in two volumes, 1786-7. Dublin.