Tower House Ireland

Like most of the surviving monuments of our medieval past the majority of irish tower houses are in poor condition with collapsed walls and ivy shrouded exteriors reflecting centuries of neglect.

Tower house ireland. The castle passed from william butler to his sons robert and theobald butler in the 16th century. Dunguaire castle just outside the beautiful seaside village of kinvara county galway was built in the 1520ies by the local ruling family the gaelic o hayes clan. Nestled in the hub of ireland s ancient east kilkenny is the medieval capital of ireland the castle is the perfect base from which to immerse yourself in its historic slipways music culture and arts. The tower house is not exclusive to this country similar structures being found along the scottish borders.

One of the oldest buildings in ireland in continuous use. However the sheer quantity of these edifices make them one of the most distinctive features of the irish landscape. During the cromwellian invasion 1649 1653 and the transplantation of ireland the castle was taken by adjutant general sadler. The 17th century tower and adjoining tower house on bangor seafront are well preserved reminders of bangor s sea faring history alongside its modern marina.

The tower house irish. Originally built in 1637 as a custom house the architecture of the tower is unique in bangor and rare in ulster. The history of the tower is displayed outside. See examples of tower house castles in ireland.

To the rear of the tower house modern guest accommodation is available with en suite rooms wifi tv hairdryers electric blankets tea. Over the past 300 years the building has served various purposes private. The 4 5 storey tower house guarded a crossing over the river suir 100 metres to the south. All across ireland can be seen buildings commonly known as castles but which ought more correctly be called tower houses.

Caisleán appeared on the islands of ireland and britain starting from the high middle ages such buildings were constructed in the wilder parts of great britain and ireland particularly in scotland and throughout ireland until at least up to the 17th century the remains of such structures are dotted around the irish and scottish countryside with a particular. Towerhouse castle is located 8 km from kilkenny 64 km from waterford and 120 km from limerick cork and dublin. Bunratty is the grandest of all tower houses in ireland back in medieval times as much as today. On this page we will show you a selection of the tower house castles of ireland.

The tower house sits on a site dating back to the 12th century making it one of the oldest tower houses in ireland today. The tower house is now the tourist information office in bangor which seems very apt. Local leaflets are in the main part of the building and attractions in the rest of the province are displayed in the tower. This is bunratty castle in county clare one of the quintessential castles in ireland the existing castle is a 15th century build and the fourth castle structure on this site seen here behind one of ireland s oldest pubs durty nelly s.