Castle - tower house, Graigue Upper, Co. Tipperary North
Co. Tipperary |
Tower Houses
Built on a gentle natural rise in Graigue Upper, this limestone tower house stands as a fascinating remnant of late 16th-century Irish architecture.
The rectangular structure, measuring roughly 13.1 metres north to south and 8.9 metres east to west, features the characteristic thick walls and defensive base-batter typical of tower houses from this period. Whilst the upper levels were truncated when Beechwood House was built around it in 1741, creating an unusual T-shaped projection at the rear, three storeys of the original tower survive. A carved stone fragment stored within bears the date 1594 alongside the initials 'OH', likely referring to a member of the Hogan family; Daniell Hogan is recorded as the proprietor in 1640.
The interior reveals the sophisticated planning typical of Irish tower houses. The ground floor, accessed through what was once the south-facing main entrance, contains a lobby, guardroom, and main chamber, with a spiral staircase tucked into the southeast corner. The doorway to the guardroom features delicate punch-tooled decoration in chequerboard and lozenge patterns, a rare surviving detail. The first floor boasts a pointed barrel vault with evidence of wicker centring, whilst the second floor contains the principal living spaces, including a large fireplace with moulded jambs in the west wall and a garderobe chamber complete with chute in the northeast angle. Perhaps most intriguing is a tiny concealed chamber within the south wall embrasure, accessed through a small opening and lit by a single window; such hidden spaces were likely used for storing valuables or as places of refuge.
By the time of the Civil Survey in 1654-6, the castle was already described as having 'the walls onely standing', suggesting it had fallen into disrepair following the tumultuous years of the Confederate Wars. The remains of a bawn wall, approximately 20 metres north of the tower, indicate this was once part of a larger fortified complex typical of Irish tower house settlements. Today, the building offers a remarkable opportunity to explore the architectural ingenuity of late medieval Ireland, with its defensive features, domestic arrangements, and decorative details all preserved within the embrace of the later Georgian house.







