What is recorded here

Moyaliff Castle stands as an eight-metre motte topped by a ruined limestone tower in a low Tipperary valley, reduced in 1338 to a shingle-roofed stub nobody wanted. The Clodiagh River still flows a hundred metres west, witnessing the collapsed mural stairs and garderobe chute that once served James le Botiller, Earl of Ormond. What remains is not grandeur but a stubborn stone box, half buried in its own hill, waiting for someone to climb the broken steps and imagine the dark room above.

Situated in a low-lying river valley with the Clodiagh River running N-S c.100m to the W and a church (TN046-006001-) 400m to the N. Described in the fourteenth century as consisting of a 'stone tower roofed with shingles' (Cal. inq. post mortem, no. 184). The manor of Moyaliff which was controlled by James le Botiller, Earl of Ormond, was described in 1338 as consisting of 'no edifices except a stone tower covered with shingles. Of no value because nobody wishes to hold it.' (Cal. inq. post mortem, no. 347). The burgesses of Moyaliffe held 220 acres of land for which they paid 4l 16d rent yearly (Cal. inq. post mortem, no. 347). A high, steep-sided flat-topped motte (H 8m)(TN046-006004-) the top of which is enclosed by a roughly coursed limestone castle (int. dims. 8.2m x 6.75m). No bailey area visible. The base of the walls are largely intact with the SE wall surviving 3m high. The S half of the SE wall (L 8.7m) projects out beyond the N portion (L 7.3m; wall T 1.5m). Collapsed masonry containing mural stairs is located in the castle interior. There is a garderobe chute in the W wall. 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

Built in the 14th century, Moyaliff Castle was a stone tower house likely held by a local Gaelic or Anglo-Norman family. It is remembered for its early description as a shingle-roofed stone tower, reflecting early medieval building practices in the region.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.