Site of Castle, Farnane, Co. Limerick

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Masonry Castles

Site of Castle, Farnane, Co. Limerick

On an elevated site in Farnane, County Limerick, Castle Comfort stands as a curious blend of old and new Irish history.

Built around 1820 for approximately £800, this four-bay, two-storey house takes its name from a much older castle that once occupied the same spot. The original fortress was known locally as Caisleán na bPaerach, or Castle of the Powers, though the exact origins of the name 'Castle Comfort' remain somewhat unclear. Local historian Westropp suggested in 1906 that the name might derive from the nearby townland of Aghacore, where 'core' could have been mistaken for the Irish word 'cobhair', meaning assistance, relief, or in its older sense, comfort.

The current house is a fine example of early 19th-century Irish architecture, featuring a hipped roof with rendered chimneystacks, square-headed windows with timber sashes, and an entrance through a single-storey porch. Behind the main house, multiple two-storey stables and outbuildings surround a courtyard, their limestone walls punctuated by red brick-trimmed openings. The property also includes a walled garden, adding to its appeal as a country estate.

While the house itself has been well documented by architectural historians, the medieval castle it replaced left fewer traces. Today, only a circular platform about 10 metres east of Castle Comfort marks where the original fortification once stood. This subtle earthwork is all that remains of what was likely a defensive structure belonging to the Powers family, who held considerable influence in this part of Limerick during the medieval period.

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