Castle (in ruins)

Westropp (1906-7, 168) recorded the following details about Tullovin Castle, Sheela-na-gig (LI031-048001-) and bawn (LI031-048002-); '1586 Tuloven C[astle]. in Cosmaye (C.S.P.I., p. 238). 1587 Pardon of Ric. Leas of Toolaobhin. 1600 Pardon of Edm. Leos, of Tullevine, and J. Leos, of Dollagh (Fi. 5006 and 6452). 1606 The same Edm. died, succeeded in C[astle]. by his son Jas., aged 30, in 1636 (Inq. Chan., 161). 1621 Sir W. Parsons was granted Tullavin C[astle]. late estate of Jas. Leo (Pat.). 1637 E. Leo held Tullaghfin (Inq. Chan., 190). 1655 Tullovyne C[astle]., bawn, stone-house, orchard, and two mills, late estate of Jas. Leo (C.S., xxiv., p. 29; B.D., p. 72). 1666 Granted to Cha. Ormsby (Act Sett.). Fabric. - A typical peel tower, with the usual window-slits, probably of late fifteenth century. Carving of a sheelanagig [LI031-048001-] on the outer wall'. The 1654-56 Civil Survey of Limerick recorded that Edmund Leo of Tullovyne, an Irish Papist, was the owner of 'a castle, bawne stone house, an orchard with two mills [LI030-130---]' (Simington 1938, 139). House like castle and watermill depicted on the 17th century Down Survey map of Coshma Barony (Hib. Reg.). Classified by Donnelly (1999, 22, 37) as a Type 1A tower house which consists of a castle where the; 'ground floor entrance to the building leads to an entrance lobby. To one side of the entrance lobby is a doorway leading to a spiral staircase set in a corner of the building. To the other side is a doorway leading into a small chamber - the subsidiary chamber. The entrance lobby provides a direct route of access through to the main chamber.' Tullovin Castle described by Salter (2004, 97) as 'This building with finely worked openings and a sheela-na-gig on the SE corner is only the end wall of an intended tower. Measuring 9.6m by 5.4m, it contains a spiral staircase and two levels of chambers over an entrance passage flanked by a guardroom. Off the passage from the stair to the third storey of the never constructed main part of the tower is a doorway to a latrine in the south wall. The property passed in the early 17th century from the Leos family to the Parsons family'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 10 December 2020

Tullovin Castle was built in the late 16th century, with records mentioning it in 1586, and was associated with Richard Leas, who received a pardon in 1587. It is remembered as part of the historical landscape of early modern Ireland, linked to local landholding and political events of the period.