What is recorded here

Killacolla is a ruined tower house on the Glencorbry River where the Knights of Glin held a fortress from the 13th century until Sir George Carew took it in 1600. The rectangular stone chamber still stands beside the water, reduced from five storeys to three and stripped of its surrounding bawn, yet its vaulted rooms and spiral stair preserve the shape of a home that outlived its owners. Ivy now covers most of the upper walls, turning a military stronghold into a quiet river landmark remembered through local tradition rather than active use.

Rectangular tower (9.8m N-S; 10.5m E-W) standing directly on N bank of Glencorbry River close to its confluence with the Shannon. Illustration of siege in 1600 (Donovan and Edwards 1997, cover) shows 5-storey tower standing at SW corner of rectangular bawn- tower now stands to just 3 storeys and there is no trace of bawn (LI017-022002-). Most of external elevations above ground-floor level now masked by ivy. Tower has two external doorways in N wall: near W corner at ground level and near E corner just below 1st-floor level; both doors have lost their surround. Lower doorway gives entry to ground-floor chamber (6.5m E-W; 4.9m N-S) which has window in centre of S and W walls: each has deep square-set embrasure covered by segmental wicker-centered vault; S window has single flat-headed light, other light missing. Chamber formerly covered by wicker centered vault (axis E-W), now entirely collapsed. Access not gained to upper floors, and following description based on visual inspection from ground level. Higher external doorway gives entry on E side to base of spiral stairs rising in NE corner of tower; judging by drawing of 1600 (ibid.) this formerly rose to full height of tower and gave entry onto wall walk via cap house. Near base of stairs was door, now almost entirely missing, giving entry to 1st-floor chamber at its NE corner. Chamber has central window in each wall, with similar embrasures to those on ground-floor; lights missing except in N window which has single flat-headed opening. On S side of E window embrasure is entry into lintelled mural chamber with garderobe at S end. Second-floor chamber is directly under a rounded wicker-centered vault (axis E-W) which has partially collapsed; blocked-up window in W wall; centre of E wall is missing revealing lintelled mural passage which must have provided access to chamber from spiral stairs. A castle of the Knights of Glin here from the 13th century (Westropp 1906-7, 238-9) but nothing of the present remains earlier than 15th century. Besieged and taken by Sir George Carew in 1600 (ibid.). Castle was later restored to Knights of Glin and repaired judging by inscribed plaque, with date of 1615, said to come from fireplace in castle but now inserted into gateway at Glin Castle country house (Spellisy 1989, 182). Late 18th century illustration shows tower already reduced to present height and with no trace of the bawn (Manning 1998, 130-1). Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011

Built by the O'Brien dynasty, likely in the 15th or early 16th century, Castle Killacolla was an important defensive and strategic site due to its location at the confluence of the Glencorbry River and the Shannon. It is remembered for its depiction in a 1600 illustration showing it as a 5-storey tower under siege during the Nine Years' War.

This remains an important historical record, but the official description says the monument is no longer visible or has been destroyed. The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.