Castle in ruins — Cloneen

Located on a break in an E-facing slope in rolling pastureland. Very little of this site, constructed of roughly coursed limestone rubble, survives. Remains consist of the NW side of a tower (NW wall int. L 3.6m; ext. L 5.9m; T 0.88m) and portions of the NE (ext. L 3.55m) and SW walls (ext. L 1.5m). There is a splayed ingoing with a shot-hole at ground-floor level in the NW wall. The short length of the SW wall terminates with an internal splay which continues to ground level. The building extended westward from the SW angle of the tower, evidenced by tie-stones jutting out. Quoinstones of poor quality consisting of rough, narrow limestone slabs were laid horizontally. The OS Letters describe a short portion of wall extending from the SW angle which is no longer visible (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 2, 91). The site is referred to as 'castle in repayre' in the Civil Survey (1654-6) (Simington 1931, vol. 1, 12). Roger Maher is listed as proprietor in 1640 (ibid.) 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