Earthwork in Cloone

Situated on undulating countryside in an upland area with the River Suir to the E. Described in the Civil Survey (1654-6) as a 'castle and bawne in repaire, and the walls only of a stone house standing and some few thatcht cabbins' (Simington 1931, vol. 1, 50). 'Phillip Purcell of Cloyne gent. Irish Papist' is listed as proprietor (ibid.). It was a Purcell castle (ibid.). Described in the OS Letters as a square tower (TN029-075001) four storeys high and measuring externally 27 ft by 27ft (8.2m x 8.2m) with walls five feet four inches thick (1.6m). The doorway consisted of a pointed arch located off-centre to the S on the E wall with a staircase leading up to the NE angle. There was evidence of barrel vaulting over the second and third floors (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 1, 180). Present remains consist of a slightly elevated square-shaped platform (dims. 33m N-S; 36m E-W; H 0.5-1m) defined by a scarp with a wide flat-bottomed outer fosse (Wth 3m; D 0.3-0.8m) and a causewayed entrance (Wth 5m) at the NE angle. The possible wall-footings of a castle site are in the centre of the platform as indicated on an aerial photograph (CUCAP, APG 56). An old river bed lies immediately to the W with possible evidence of a leat supplying the moat at the NW angle. No surface remains visible of any earthworks. 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