Purefoy or Ballyleakin Castle, Ballyleakin, Co. Offaly

Co. Offaly |

Tower Houses

Purefoy or Ballyleakin Castle, Ballyleakin, Co. Offaly

In the townland of Ballyleakin in County Offaly, the remnants of what was likely a medieval tower house tell a story of centuries past, though precious little survives above ground today.

Known as Purefoy or Ballyleakin Castle, this site appears on the Down Survey maps of 1655-6, suggesting it was still a notable structure in the mid-17th century. The castle once commanded an advantageous position on good pasture land with extensive views across the surrounding countryside; a strategic location that would have served its defensive purposes well.

Today, visitors to the site would struggle to identify any castle remains at ground level. The only surviving evidence consists of a few fragments of medieval stonework that have been incorporated into the ruins of a later dwelling, a common practice where old castles provided ready building materials for newer structures. Archaeological surveys conducted by O'Flanagan in 1933 noted these secondary positions of the original stonework, documenting what little physical evidence remained of the castle's original form.

The site's transformation continues into the modern era, with a large agricultural shed now occupying the spot where the castle once stood. While this makes archaeological investigation challenging, the location's inclusion in the Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly ensures its historical significance is preserved in record, if not in stone. The inventory, published in 1997 and updated with recent research, maintains the memory of this lost fortress that once watched over the Offaly 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 Purefoy or Ballyleakin Castle, Ballyleakin, Co. Offaly. 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