Castle (in ruins)

Situated on rock outcrop on flat, poorly drained pasture with a nearby mill site (TN036-013----) to the S. Described in the Civil Survey (1654-6) as a 'Mannor haveing the privileges of a Court leet and Court Baron, haveing also a castle thereupon out of all manner of repaire and the ruines of an old mill' (Simington 1931, vol. 1, 45). The Earl of Ormond is listed as proprietor in 1640 (ibid.). The poorly preserved remains of an ivy-covered tower house with only the NW wall standing to full height. The ground-floor partition wall also survives. Modern farm sheds have been recently built around the base of the castle. The walls (T 1.6m approx.) are constructed with roughly coursed limestone rubble with prominent base-batter. The only feature visible on the external face of the SW wall is a large garderobe chute in the centre of the wall. The partition wall divided the ground floor into two small rooms (int. dims. c. 5m x 6m). There is a large destroyed segmental-headed fireplace in centre of the SW wall on the NE face. There were timber floors throughout carried on joists and wall plates. No other features visible. 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, Castle Ballyerk was held by a local lordship and is remembered for its status as a manor with judicial privileges, indicating its role in regional governance and land administration.