Ballyglasheen Castle, Ballyglasheen, Co. Tipperary South

Ballyglasheen Castle, Ballyglasheen, Co. Tipperary South

The stone walls surrounding Ballyglasheen Castle in County Tipperary South tell a fascinating story of centuries of occupation and adaptation.

Ballyglasheen Castle, Ballyglasheen, Co. Tipperary South

This limestone rubble enclosure, measuring 40 metres on the northwest side and just over 67 metres on the northeast, was built using a random coursing technique typical of defensive structures from the period. While the wall likely dates to the same era as the fortified house it protects, evidence suggests it saw significant modifications during the 18th and 19th centuries when the site was reoccupied.

The northeastern section of the wall serves a dual purpose, forming the back wall of a long farm building that was added during the 19th century. Along this face, you can spot several narrow openings, some now blocked up, which appear to be contemporary with the farm building rather than the original fortification. The integration of defensive architecture into later agricultural use demonstrates how these structures evolved to meet changing needs over time.



Access to the enclosure is provided through two entrances along the southwestern wall, where a road now runs. Both gateways feature offset square piers that appear to be 19th century additions, suggesting the entrances were formalised during the site’s agricultural phase. The western end of this southwestern wall shows signs of deliberate alteration; it has been lowered and rather crudely capped with upright stones, perhaps to repurpose the stone or reduce the structure’s imposing presence as its defensive role became obsolete.

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Ballyglasheen, Co. Tipperary South
52.37921034, -7.5935009
52.37921034,-7.5935009
Ballyglasheen 
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