Ballynahow Castle

Map Reference: S083602 (2083, 1602)

This castle was built by the Purcells in the 16th century. It is one of a number of round castles found throughout Tipperary. It is five storeys high with four machicolations at roof level.

One of these guards the doorway in the E where there is also a murder-hole leading from a small chamber on the first floor.

A spiral stairway rises to the left of the doorway. The ground floor room is lit with small slits set within deep square recesses. This gives the room a cruciform appearance. There is a vault above the first floor and another above the third floor. The rooms at the higher levels are lit by single- and two-light windows. The second floor has a very fine fireplace and there is another at the fourth floor. A hole in the floor near the N wall at this level leads downwards to an apparent secret chamber set within the thickness of the wall.