Castle — unclassified in Tinnahinch

1553 Map of Leix and Offaly has the words 'Bawn Regan' written across the present townland of Tinnahinch near the Barrow. Tinnahinch Castle is mentioned in the 1637 inquistion taken at Maryboro (Portlaoise) when Charles Dunne is described as being posessed of the 'Castle of Tinnahinchie, the hall, the chambers at the end of the hall, the stone wall of a hall which joineth to the castle, the kitchen, the brewhouse, the back-house, the stables, the porter's lodgings and all the houses within the bawn; the two gardens, the four orchards, the park and the meadow on the south syde of the castle, the myll and all the houses on the easte side of ye river of the Barrow in the towne and fields of Tinnahinchie in the territory of Iregan (Crosdaile 1959, 12). Unlocated castle within the townland of Tinnahinch. This castle continued to be the chief seat of the O'Dunne's until it was attacked by Colonel Hewson in 1653. Down Survey (1654-7) map shows the town and castle of Tinnahinch, Sir William petty mentions three towns in his survey, these were the towns of Mountmellick, Tinnahinch and Castlebrack. Site was located during field work in the area, site consists of a short low stretch of sandstone wall (H 1.5m; L approx. 10m) with base batter visible located at edge of ravine overlooking stream immediately to the NE, this stretch of wall was poined out by the landowner as the remains of Tinnahinch Castle. The wall runs parallel to the river and there is a natural spring well with dry stone wall surround to the NE of the castle. A 19th century outhouse has been built on top of the castle wall and no other remains of the castle survives, cobblestone farmyard and outhouses appear to have been built on site of castle. Castle was stregically located on an island at the junction between two rivers in an upland region. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 17 December 2007