What is recorded here

Clonony Castle stands as a ruined bawn on a natural rock outcrop in County Offaly, its three-storey tower house built from roughly coursed limestone rubble. The Mac Coghlan family is linked to the site in 1519, though later 19th-century rebuilds have layered new walls over the old defenses. A garderobe chute still points toward the earth, waiting for a final drop that never came.

Situated on top of natural rock outcrop in undulating countryside. Three storey tower house (OF022-008001-) built with roughly coursed limestone rubble entered through a rebuilt door in the W wall which is protected by a machicolation now destroyed at wall-walk level with a later inserted window directly below. The bawn wall is attached to the NE corner where it blocks the garderobe chute opening, smaller inner bawn structure in front of the main W door which has crenellations with brick infill and a pointed entrance with steps leading up to it. The round arched main entrance with its crenellated wall appear to be a later construction possibly 19th-century. The main entrance on the W wall of the bawn is constructed from worked stones of another structure possibly an earlier entrance. Two square towers at either end of the W wall with original coat of arms plaque over entrance now removed. Bawn is not depicted on Petries 19th-century drawing of Clonony Castle. Inner bawn of probable mid 19th-century date, while the outer bawn has been rebuilt in places during the 19th century. Mac Coghlan castle mentioned in the A.F.M in 1519 (ITA Survey 1942). (Anon 1868-69, 85-7; Cooke 1875, 330-32; O' Flanagan 1933, vol. 1, 85; Harbison 1972, 205) Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

Clonony Castle was built in the late 15th or early 16th century by the MacMurrough Kavanagh family, Gaelic chieftains of the area. It is remembered as a significant example of a tower house in Leinster and reflects the defensive architecture of the medieval Irish lordships.

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.