The castle of Donethyl, as it was known in the late 13th century, belonged to the Le Ercedekne family, who held the position of Archdeacon in the area. In 1295, the castle became the scene of a dramatic confrontation when Silverster le Ercedekne lodged a formal complaint against Hugh Purcel, the Sheriff of Tipperary. According to le Ercedekne, Purcel had forcibly broken into the castle, smashed open chests and coffers, and made off with goods worth an astronomical £500; a fortune by medieval standards.

The manor’s importance grew considerably in the early 14th century when it received permission in 1319 to hold a weekly market, complete with liberties and free customs that marked it as a significant local centre. Over the centuries, ownership passed through various noble hands, including the Earl of Desmond in 1573, before the castle faced attack by O’Sullivan Bere in 1602. By 1640, the Countess of Ormond held the property, though the Civil Survey of 1654 paints a rather bleak picture of its condition, describing it as “an old brocken castle Irepayeable” on wasteland, though it still retained the privilege of holding both criminal and civil courts.

Today, visitors to this historic site will find modest but evocative remains: an L-shaped, grass-covered wall running east to west along the northern edge of the motte for about seven metres, with a perpendicular section extending southward along the western side. Several substantial masonry fragments scatter the eastern half of the mound, whilst nearby, about 110 to 180 metres away, stand the medieval church and graveyard of the area, along with St. James’ holy well, completing this cluster of medieval sites that once formed the heart of a thriving manor.