What is recorded here

Breansha Castle belonged to James oge Butler in 1640 and was already demolished when surveyed decades later, leaving only a seven-metre limestone wall rising four courses above flat Tipperary fields. The missing western face suggests stones were taken rather than lost to decay, perhaps redirected to build another home or road while the eastern edge held its shape. A faint eighteen-metre depression still marks the vanished chamber, preserving the footprint of a residence that stopped resisting time before it could be forgotten.

On a slight rise in relatively flat terrain with good views to the N, E and S. According to the Civil Survey (1654-56) in 1640 'Brenshigh' was under the proprietorship of 'James oge Butler Esqr. Irish Papist' and 'On the sd land stands a demolished castle' (Simington 1934, vol. 2, 33). Only a length of overgrown wall (L 7m; H 0.95m; T 1.27m), orientated N-S, survives four courses high. It is constructed of limestone rubble, roughly coursed. The E face is intact for some of its length but the W face is robbed out completely leaving a wall 0.7m thick visible. The W face is intact 0.3m above ground level. The castle is indicated on the 1st (1840) ed. 6-inch OS map as a rectangular building (dims. 18m E-W; c. 8m N-S). By the 2nd (1901-05) ed. only the W wall is shown. The line of the building is still visible as a depression (dims. 18m E-W; 11m N-S; D 0.32m) running eastward from the W wall. The castle appears to be located on the S side of a roughly square enclosure, possibly a bawn (TS067-048001-). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 11 December 2012

Built or held by James Oge Butler, an Irish Papist, by 1640, Breansha Castle is remembered for its mention in the Civil Survey, reflecting landownership patterns and religious affiliations during the lead-up to the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.