Castle

Situated on the summit of a hill in a mountainous region with extensive views. An impressive bivallate earthwork consisting of a raised circular area (diam. 28m NE-SW) enclosed by two earth and stone banks with a narrow deep intervening fosse (Wth 1m; D 1m) and a causewayed entrance (Wth 3.8m) at ESE. The inner bank (Wth 3.5m; int. H 1.7m; ext. H 3-4m) is the best preserved while the outer bank (Wth 1.5m; ext. H 0.2m) is mainly reduced to a scarp and is destroyed by a modern road at N. 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

A ringwork castle built during the early medieval period, likely by a local Gaelic lord for defensive purposes; its strategic hilltop location and bivallate design reflect its importance in controlling the surrounding mountainous region.