What is recorded here

Eglish Castle stands as a ruined square tower on a natural rise above the river floodplain, its thick limestone walls barely surviving the centuries. A later house clings to its north side, continuing the old rhythm of building and rebuilding that marked the place since medieval times. The remaining bawn wall and cobblestones hint at a busy courtyard where guards, servants and visitors once moved between rooms and outbuildings. What is lost is easy to imagine: lights in the windows, voices in the stair, and the smell of bread or smoke carrying across the water at dusk.

Situated on a natural rise on the floodplains of the river located to the S of the site and site of medieval church (OF030-016----) to SE. Poorly preserved tower house constructed with roughly coursed limestone rubble with only portions of its N and W walls remaining with a later 18th century house attached to its N wall. The tower house is almost square in plan (ext. dims. 10.4m N-S; 9.9m E-W; wall T 1.9m) with slight base batter evident and stands two storeys high with original entrance probably located in the E wall. From a rebuilt door in the W end of the N wall at ground floor a mural stairs was accessed running upwards from W to E which gave access to the first floor now destroyed in the NE angle. Evidence of a wall walk support on the N wall above first floor. Mural passage in the W wall and possible guard room were also accessed from the rebuilt door in the W end of the N wall. First floor guardroom with musket loop directly above guard room in the NW angle at ground floor level. Running S from the SW angle and returning E the bawn wall is largely intact with several outhouses attached to the bawn (OF030-015001-). Evidence of cobblestone paving in the SW corner of the courtyard. The arrangement of medieval church (OF030-016----) and tower house with later 18th-century house displays an interesting continuity in settlement and architecture similar to Garrycastle (OF029-006001-). (Cooke 1875, 25-6; O' Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 2-6) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

Eglish Castle is a 15th-century tower house built by an unknown local Gaelic lord or landowner. It is remembered for its strategic location near a medieval church and its association with the historical landscape of the region.

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.