Ballynahow Castle

Coordinates: 52°41′35″N 7°52′41″W / 52.693070°N 7.878118°W / 52.693070; -7.878118
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Ballynahow Castle
Native name
Irish: Caisleán Bhaile na hAbha
Typetower house
LocationBallynahow, Ballycahill,
County Tipperary, Ireland
Coordinates52°41′35″N 7°52′41″W / 52.693070°N 7.878118°W / 52.693070; -7.878118
Elevation87 m (285 ft)
Height15.2 m (50 ft)
Builtc. 1500–1550
Architectural style(s)Tower house
OwnerIrish state
Official nameBallynahow Castle
Reference no.234
Ballynahow Castle is located in Ireland
Ballynahow Castle
Location of Ballynahow Castle in Ireland

Ballynahow Castle is a tower house and a National Monument in County Tipperary, Ireland.[1][2]

Location[edit]

Another view of Ballynahow Castle

Ballynahow Castle is located 4.6 km (2.9 mi) west-northwest of Thurles, on the west bank of the Farneybridge River (a tributary of the River Suir).

History[edit]

Ballynahow Castle was built in the early 16th century by the Purcell family, an Old English family who held the title of Baron of Loughmoe. The lower floors were used in the 1840s as a cottage. The tower house was transferred to state ownership in 1930.[3]

The tower house[edit]

The tower house (caiseal) rises 15.2 m (50 ft) to the chemin de ronde, off which are four evenly spaced machicolations. It is five storeys tall with slit windows and large fireplaces on the second and fourth levels. A hole in the north wall on the fourth level leads to a secret chamber set into the walls.[4] Originally the top level was covered by a conical timber roof carried on squinches.[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Travelmania Ireland - Ballynahow Castle, County Tipperary". Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  2. ^ "Geograph:: Castles of Munster: Ballynahow,... (C) Mike Searle".
  3. ^ "Ballynahow Castle, County Tipperary".
  4. ^ "Ballynahow Castle".
  5. ^ "Ballynahow Castle - Attractions - Historic Houses and Castles - All Ireland - Republic of Ireland - Tipperary - Thurles - Discover Ireland".