Kinlough Castle

Map Reference: M260504 (1260, 2504)



This castle was built in the 16th century. In a map of 1584 it is described as a “MacWilliam House”. “The MacWilliam Eighter”, who was then Sir John FitzOliver Burke, lived there in 1574. In 1618 Sir Richard FitzOliver Burke was the tenant and his son, Walter, mortgaged it to Sir Valentine Blake of Menlough, in 1628. Sir Thomas Blake leased it to John Darcy in 1668 and Pierce Joyce purchased the lands in 1852.



The castle is four storeys high. There are gables at the east and west walls but no traces of crenellations. There are traces of a wall bartizan in the west wall. There are three very tall chimney stacks. Two of these are in the SW and NW corners and lead from the 2nd and 3rd floors.



The site of the doorway in the east wall is now a ragged gap. The interior of the building is gutted, with no traces of a vault. Most of the window gaps are large with a few narrow loops at the ground floor. The wall has a good base batter.



There are traces of a possible stone stairway on the interior of the south wall, leading from 1st to 2nd floor.



For details of some other Tower Houses click on the following links

Ballynalacken, Co Clare Ballyportry, Co Clare Cratloemoyle, Co Clare Gleninagh, Co Clare Smithstown, Co Clare Ballinacarriga, Co Cork Carrickadroichid, Co Cork Dunmanus, Co Cork Buncrana, Co Donegal Audley’s Castle, Co Down Jordan’s Castle, Co Down Kilclief, Co Down Narrow Water, Co Down Dunsoghly, Co Dublin Ardamullivan, Co Galway Drumharsna, Co Galway Feartagar, Co Galway Lydacan, Co Galway Ballymalis, Co Kerry Ballybur, Co Kilkenny Burnchurch, Co Kilkenny Foulksrath, Co Kilkenny Rockstown, Co Limerick Castlerea, Co Longford Ardee, Co Louth Killincoole, Co Louth Dunmahon, Co Louth Roodstown, Co Louth Termonfeckin, Co Louth Kildavnet, Co Mayo Rockfleet, Co Mayo Donore, Co Meath Lynch’s Castle, Co Meath Clonony, Co Offaly Shrah, Co Offaly Ballyfinboy, Co Tipperary Ballyvada, Co Tipperary Grallagh, Co Tipperary Graystown, Co Tipperary Lisronagh, Co Tipperary Moycarkey, Co Tipperary Tombrickane, Co Tipperary Syonan, Co Westmeath Tyrrelspass, Co Westmeath Kilcloggan, Co Wexford Rathmacknee, Co Wexford Taghmon, Co Wexford Threecastles, Co Wicklow