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Why this matters

Lemanaghan Castle is a 15th- to 16th-century tower house associated with the Mac Coghlan family, built as a defensive structure in a remote, strategic location. It is important as part of an archaeological complex that includes a medieval church, reflecting the historical and religious significance of the site.

Overview

Lemanaghan Castle — Lemanaghan is recorded as Castle — tower house in Offaly. Located on an island of well drained land surrounded on three sides by bog with the ruins of Lemanaghan church (OF015-004003-) 85m to SE. Mac Coghlan tower house located inside an archaeological complex consisting of an early Christian monastery founded by St. Manchán in the 7th century, a multi-period church (OF015-004003-) dating from the Romanesque and late medieval date with several early Christian cross-slabs (OF015-004005-) and architectural fragments in the interior of the church.

Who built and held it

The saved account records: Old black and white photographs of the castle in the Magan Collection of Offaly County Council show that it was a square shaped tower of late 15th or early 16th century date similar to nearby Coole Castle (OF015-017----).

Attack, change and use

The saved account records: Located on an island of well drained land surrounded on three sides by bog with the ruins of Lemanaghan church (OF015-004003-) 85m to SE.

What survives

The saved account records: Present remains consist of only the ivy-covered SW angle which survives standing to a height of approx.

Why it mattered

Lemanaghan Castle — Lemanaghan matters because the source ties castle — tower house to this exact landscape and preserves evidence that a bare map name loses. The saved account adds: The wall thickness measures 0.96m with evidence of a slight base batter.

History checked 15 August 2026 against the named sources below.

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