Site of Castle

Around 1300 Inchirourke was owned by John de Fresingfeld and in 1312 Edmond Butler secured the Manor of Inchirourke from de Fresingfeld (McCormack 1989, 31). The 17th century Civil Survey (Simington vol. 1, 1931; vol. 2, 1934) contains no mention of a castle in Inchirourke suggesting that it was in ruins by that time. It is situated on top of a low rise of ground in undulating pasture, with extensive bogland to N and W of castle and good views in all directions. Only a portion of the ground floor survives to a maximum height of 3m, consisting of short sections of N (Wall T 0.95m) and S wall (Wall T 1.60m; L 7.7m with wall-footings running E for a further 1.5m) of the ground-floor chamber (Wth 2.90m N-S; 9.2m E-W) with a barrel vault (H 2.7m) over the ground floor. It is constructed of roughly coursed limestone rubble with good evidence of wicker-centring on the underside of vault. There were possibly two barrel-vaulted ground-floor chambers running E-W, of which only the S chamber survives, with remains of the N vaulted chamber visible as a springer (L 3.9m) from the N face of the dividing wall of castle. A large gap in the centre of the S wall may be the remains of a broken out window or doorway. There is a chamfered limestone window or door jamb lying within the castle. The original external S wall was constructed in two phases, which is now visible in the exposed W face of the S wall. The physical remains are insufficent to identify whether this was an early medieval castle or a late medieval tower house. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

Inchirourke was held by John de Fresingfeld around 1300 and later by Edmond Butler in 1312, reflecting shifting land ownership during the early 14th century in Ireland. The site is remembered for its connection to the Butler family, who became influential in Irish medieval history.