Bawn

The National Monuments Service's description

Tyrrellspass Castle ruins (WM039-001----) were restored in the 1970s and now functions as the Tyrrellpass Castle restaurant. The medieval tower house and bawn was described by Salter (2004, 156) as following; 'Dendrochronological tests upon an oak floor beam over the lowest level of this tower built by the Tyrrel family suggested a construction date of 1410. During the 1980s it was restored from a derelict state by Laurence Ginnell, and on the south side are ogival-headed lancets then brought from the castle (WM031-086----) of Syonan, whilst three two-light windows came from the ruined church (WM038-017006-) at Kilbeggan. The SE end contains a tier of small rooms over the entrance and the spiral stair. There are five storeys, with a pointed vault over the second level, and there are double-stepped battlements and two circular bartizans. A modern wing is hidden away at the back. Adjoining the tower on the SE is a circular flanker of the former bawn. Near here in 1597 Richard Tyrrel and Piers Lacy ambushed and destroyed an English force under Christopher Barnewall'.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 18 December 2019

References

Salter, M. 2004 The castles of Leinster. Worcestershire. Folly Publications.