Indicated

On the summit of a prominent rock outcrop overlooking the town of Cashel (TS061-025----) c. 300m to the S-SE. A five-storey a residential tower house (int. diam. c. 10m x 5m; wall T c. 1m) of roughly coursed limestone rubble, surmounted by a stepped parapet. It was built into the W end of the nave of the cathedral (TS061-025003-), probably by Archbishop Richard O'Hedian (1406-40) (Stalley 1996, 312). There is an angle buttress at the W end of the S wall rising to second-floor level, with a cusped ogee-headed statue niche incorporated into the base mimicking the 13th-century trefoil-headed niches on the exterior of the cathedral. There is a barrel-vaulted roof over the first floor. The chamber at second-floor level is very commodious with a cut-stone oculus window in the W wall and the remains of a joggle-jointed limestone fireplace in the E wall. This level is protected by several murder-holes and is connected to the adjoining cathedral via a mural passage. A steep straight-sided mural stair rises in the W wall. Most of the S wall of the tower house collapsed in a storm in 1848 (Manning 2000, 31). An 18th-century sketch shows a two-light traceried window in each of the two upper levels of the S wall (Harbison 1998, 214-5). A tower of pentagonal plan connects the tower house with the cathedral crossing-tower. It houses a well-lit broad spiral staircase, the descent of which leads into the cathedral by a doorway in the S transept. At the top of the staircase there is a sculpted stone head wearing a mitre, presumably that of an archbishop. In the early 16th century, between 1504 and 1525, a second floor was built over the cathedral's nave, which connected with the tower house and appears to have functioned as an upper hall (Stalley 1996, 312). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011