What is recorded here

Tower, Glebe South is a three-storey limestone castle beside the Balrothery graveyard, recorded in 1654 as the residence of the local minister. Ivy climbs its walls and a blocked doorway still shadows the west side, but the chamber above may have held a cleric, a soldier or a family who learned the spiral stairs in darkness. The tower stands on a rise, watching the village and the dead with patience.

Located on a natural rise in the wooded grounds of Glebe House directly south of the graveyard in Balrothery village. This is a three-storey rectangular tower house with later modifications to the windows and battlements (ext. dims.5.6m N-S; 7.5m E-W). Built of coursed limestone masonry with dressed quoins and a base batter. A pointed-arched doorway on W. side, now blocked, led into a vaulted ground floor. There is a spiral staircase in the SW corner. The interior is lit by a round-headed window in the N wall on the first floor and a trefoil-headed window in N wall on the second floor, which is a later insertion. A machicolation survives on the N wall. There is the scar of a gabled building, which was formerly attached to S wall. This is the castle held by the minister of Balrothery which is mentioned in the Civil survey (1654-6) (Simington 1945, 15; Anon 1833, 209-211). Considerable ivy growth covers the building. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 15 November 2014

Built in the late 16th or early 17th century, Tower, Glebe South is thought to have been constructed by a local landowning family for defensive purposes during a period of political and military instability in Ireland. It remains important as a surviving example of early Irish tower house architecture in a rural setting.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.