Castle (in ruins)

Situated on level ground in a farmyard, in an area of gently undulating pasture. Described in the Civil Survey 1654-6 as 'an old ruined Castle & bawne & three cottages' in 'The Mannor & Lands of Bellagh Caple' with the proprietors of the townland in 1640 listed as 'Richard Butler of Kilcash, Duncuan, Matthew, Owen' and 'Bryan Kenedy & Donogh Donoghow' (Simington 1934, vol. 2, 285-6). Present remains consist of a rectangular hall-keep (TN015-069001) with a double vault over the ground floor. It was originally two-storey but was modified to become a three-storey tower house in the fifteenth century. According to local tradition part of the bawn wall survives SW of the tower house, some of which has been incorporated into the S gable end of a house to the S. The landowner asserts that a further length, running E-W, contains a number of loops, however, this is now obscured by ivy. 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 in the 17th century, Ballycapple Castle was likely held by a local Gaelic or Anglo-Irish family, as indicated by its mention in the Civil Survey of 1654–56. It is remembered as a historical remnant of the early modern landscape in Ireland, reflecting the social and territorial structures of the time.