Kilfadda Castle, Kilfadda, Co. Tipperary North

Co. Tipperary |

Masonry Castles

Kilfadda Castle, Kilfadda, Co. Tipperary North

The ruins of Kilfadda Castle stand on a raised platform in County Tipperary North, marking what was once a formidable medieval stronghold.

Today, only fragments remain of this once impressive structure; a roughly D-shaped tower that rises just one storey high, though it still boasts an remarkable groin-vaulted ceiling over its ground floor. The tower, measuring 5.3 metres in external diameter with walls about a metre thick, shows evidence of a destroyed window on its northeast face and what appears to be a blocked doorway to the south. Portions of bawn wall attached to the northeast and southwest faces suggest this tower may have served as a flanking tower along a larger defensive curtain wall.

Historical records paint a picture of the castle's gradual decline. When documented in the OS Letters, it was described as an 'old castle which is now nearly destroyed', with only 'one small apartment with a stone arch over it' and isolated bits of wall remaining. By the time of the Civil Survey in 1654-6, the castle had deteriorated further, recorded as a 'ruined old castle, Irrepayreably demolished'. The raised platform on which the tower sits is believed to be the location of the original bawn, now defined only by a drainage feature.

The castle's stones have found new life in the surrounding area, though not in their original form. A modern laneway now cuts through the site just south of the tower, with a 19th-century building on the other side that appears to have been constructed using medieval stone, possibly salvaged from the demolished castle. Another nearby 19th-century house features a roughly dressed chamfered and rebated door jamb, likely medieval in origin, protruding from its gable wall; a tangible reminder of Kilfadda Castle's former grandeur, now scattered across the local landscape.

Rated 0 out of 5

Visitor Notes

Review type for post source and places source type not found
Added by
Picture of Pete F
Pete F
IrishHistory.com is passionate about helping people discover and connect with the rich stories of their local communities.
Please use the form below to submit any photos you may have of Kilfadda Castle, Kilfadda, Co. Tipperary North. We're happy to take any suggested edits you may have too. Please be advised it will take us some time to get to these submissions. Thank you.
Name
Email
Message
Upload images/documents
Maximum file size: 100 MB
If you'd like to add an image or a PDF please do it here.

Advertisement