What is recorded here
Pallas Castle stood on a slight rise above the Pallas river until demolition removed its towers, leaving only a thick limestone bawn wall and ghost stables behind a modern farmyard. Daniell Kenedy owned the ruined place in 1640, suggesting a powerful family held the land through violent change. The wall still measures twelve feet high and nearly four feet thick, proving the castle resisted time longer than its chambers did.
Situated on a slight rise of ground in undulating countryside with nearby Pallas river to the W. Described as an 'old ruined irrepayarable castle and bawne' in the Civil Survey (1654-6) (Simington 1934, vol. 2, 322). Daniell Kenedy is listed as proprietor in 1640 (ibid.). The OS Letters describe the bawn wall as standing to a height of 12ft (3.6m) and measuring 3ft 9in (1.1m) thick (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 3, 30). A farmyard and farmhouses are now located on site of the castle (TN005-006001-) and bawn leaving no visible remains at ground level.
Pallas Castle ruins described in 1840 as following; ‘Palace old Castle stood a short distance to the S.West of the Church. It is now entirely demolished & part of a wall belonging to the bawn walls is still to be seen at the place. It is a structure of limestone and lime and sand mortar. Its height is about 12 feet [3.65m]. Thickness of the wall is 3 feet 9 inches [1.14m]. There two thatches stables apparently, at one extremity, one attached to each side. Between these stables is apparently on the old wall a stone chimney’ (O’Flanagan 1930, vol. 3, 30-1; OSL Dorrha Parish RIA MS 14/F/20/4/(v)).
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.
Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of upload/revision: 12 October 2020
The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.
- What survives
- Recorded monument
Places near here
Site of Pallas CastleCastle, unclassified · 10 yd
Dorrha Churchchurch/chapel · 212 yd
Church (in ruins)Church · 220 yd
Dotted OutlineEcclesiastical enclosure · 279 yd
Toberdima (now dry)Holy well · 432 yd
Lumcloon WoodWood · 2.0 mi
Site of Feddaun CastleCastle, unclassified · 2.8 mi
Birr Castlemachinery · 3.6 mi
European BeechEuropean Beech · 3.6 mi
Waterfall PointViewpoint · 3.9 mi
James Franklin FullerMemorial · 3.9 mi