Castle

Situated on a rise in rolling pastureland. Described in the Civil Survey (1654-6) as 'The ruined Castle of Glanehelty ye walls standinge' (Simington 1934, vol. 2, 211). The tower house has been modified and incorporated in later buildings. Alterations included the lowering of the building from a three- or four-storey structure to a two-storey one. The external W face is the only side not blocked by later building, however, it has been completely re-modelled, with original fenestration replaced. This rectangular tower house (dims. 8.8m N-S; 10.5m E-W; wall T 1.4m) appears to be constructed of limestone with dressed quoins - it has an external dashed render and a high base-batter (H 3.45m; W at base 0.4m). The original entrance is on the E side through a pointed doorway with external rebate. The ground floor has been much altered and served as a parlour in the nineteenth century (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 3, 99). Spiral stairs in the SE angle have been blocked-up between ground and first-floor level. The first-floor level is now directly under a modern roof. Two limestone corbels project from both the E and W walls which would have supported a wooden floor above. At second-floor level the stair is lit by a flat-headed single-light. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008

Built by the MacDonnell family of Antrim in the 16th or early 17th century, Castle Glenahilty is remembered as a defensive structure in a strategically contested region during the Gaelic and early Plantation periods of Ulster.