Derry Castle — Derry Demesne

Situated on a cashel (TN019-034005-) which had been constructed on top of a crannóg (TN019-034003-) on Lough Derg. A poorly preserved rectangular tower (TN019-034001-) surviving four storeys high which was inaccessible due to a padlocked gate. The walls are constructed of coursed sandstone rubble with dressed quoinstones, the walls have been recently repointed with cement and the battlements rebuilt with limestone rubble. Described in OS Letters (O' Flanagan 1930, vol. 2, 31-2) as a small square tower four storeys high with a barrel vault over the second floor. The tower was built with sandstone and slate with a destroyed doorway in the N wall and mural stairs in the E wall (ibid.). A small circular bawn wall (dim. 16m E-W; wall T 2m) projected from the NE angle of the tower and returned onto the SE angle (ibid.). This circular bawn wall which projects from the NE angle of the tower appears to have been built on top of the earlier drystone cashel which is constructed with uncoursed cyclopean masonry in contrast with the mortared coursed walls of the bawn and tower house. The bawn, which is only visible at NE and NW angles, appears to follow the line of the earlier cashel. The ivy-covered wall-footings of a long rectangular house (ext. dims. c. 7m N-S x 12m E-W; wall T 1.1m) orientated E-W are visible approx. 3m to the W of the tower house. This may be the foundations of the thatched house described in the Civil Survey as a 'little castle wth. a little Bawne aboute it in an Island in ye Shannon, it wants repayre & a thatcht house within the Bawne' (Simington 1934, vol. 2, 160). Teige O'Bryen is listed as proprietor of the castle in AD 1640 (ibid.). This tower house is described as the castle of Cathair Conchubhair in a deed of the lands of Murchartach O'Brien of Ara, Bishop of Killaloe (1570-1613) (Westropp 1911-12, 211). This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 4/2001). 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