Bawn, Ballaghmore Upper, Co. Laois
Sitting on a gentle rise at the foot of a hillside in Ballaghmore Upper, County Laois, this remarkably well-preserved tower house stands as a testament to centuries of Irish fortified architecture.
Bawn, Ballaghmore Upper, Co. Laois
The five-storey structure, measuring approximately 13.65 metres northeast to southwest and 11.6 metres northwest to southeast, features the characteristic slight outward slope at its base known as a batter. Originally built as a defensive residence, the tower underwent restoration work during the 19th century and has been recently refurbished, ensuring its survival for future generations.
The tower house was once protected by an enclosed courtyard or bawn that wrapped around its base, complete with circular defensive towers at the corners. Today, visitors can still see substantial remains of this defensive system; half of the western angle tower survives to a height of about 1.5 metres, whilst the southern angle tower remains completely intact. This southern tower is particularly impressive, with an exterior diameter of 3.7 metres and walls measuring 0.7 metres thick. Its interior space, just 1.63 metres in diameter, is topped by a corbelled stone roof that rises 2.6 metres high.
The southern tower’s defensive capabilities are evident in its three gun loops, narrow openings designed for firearms, though only one facing south remains completely intact. These architectural features reveal how the structure evolved to meet changing military technology, transitioning from medieval arrow slits to accommodating early modern weaponry. The combination of the imposing main tower and its surrounding defensive features creates a compelling picture of how local lords and their families lived, defended themselves, and controlled their territories during Ireland’s turbulent medieval and early modern periods.





