Located in the townland of Ballycocksoost, this fortified house dates from the late medieval period, likely built sometime in the 15th or 16th century. The name itself tells a story; ‘white castles’ were typically smaller fortified houses that were lime-washed or constructed from lighter stone, distinguishing them from the grander stone fortresses of the Norman lords.

What remains today is a rectangular tower house, typical of the hundreds that once dotted the Irish countryside during the late medieval period. These structures served as defendable homes for the lesser gentry and prosperous merchants who needed protection in uncertain times but couldn’t afford the expense of a full castle. The Ballycocksoost example retains portions of its defensive features, including narrow window openings and thick walls that would have provided security against raids whilst still allowing its inhabitants to oversee their agricultural holdings.

The castle’s history is somewhat obscure, as is often the case with these smaller fortified houses. Local tradition suggests various owners over the centuries, though documentation is sparse. Like many such structures, it likely passed through multiple families as fortunes rose and fell, eventually being abandoned as more peaceful times and changing architectural fashions made tower houses obsolete. Today, the ruins stand on private land, a quiet testament to a time when even minor landowners needed to think defensively about their domestic arrangements.