Ballyfinboy Castle

Map Reference: R899936 (1899, 1936)



The castle near Borrisokane, on the Ballyfinboy River is four storeys high. There is a large gap in the west wall and most of the top storey is missing. It is vaulted above the second floor. The entrance in the east wall is by a fine pointed doorway. There is a large guard chamber to the right and a stairway rises to the left. Evidence of any murder-hole is now gone. Straight ahead is a large ground floor room with windows set within deep recesses. There is a fireplace at the first floor in the south wall. The straight stairway soon becomes a spiral.



At the first floor a passage in the south wall leads to a garde-robe in the southwest corner.



There is a good corner-slit here with a fine splay an the inside. There are traces of a slop stone at the east end of this passage. The stairway above first floor level is fragmentary and access to the higher levels was not possible. On the outside south wall near the east end, at about first floor level, is a very fine sheila-na-gig.





The entrance wall



A small window with slop stone



The remains of the spiral stairway

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 Kinlough, Co Mayo Rockfleet, Co Mayo Donore, Co Meath Lynch’s Castle, Co Meath Clonony, Co Offaly Shrah, Co Offaly 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