The Civil Survey of 1654-6 recorded it as ‘a small old castle, wanting repaire’, a modest fortification that belonged to Richard Butler of Clonbrogan, identified in the records as an ‘Irish Papist’. This designation placed Butler firmly amongst the Catholic landowners who would soon face dispossession during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.

Today, visitors to Clonbrogan House can still discover fragments of the original castle scattered throughout the grounds. These limestone architectural pieces, likely dating from the 16th century, offer tangible connections to the building’s medieval past. Among them are a chamfered door jamb measuring 37cm long, complete with holes for glazing bars; a mullion fragment of similar purpose; and what appears to be either a window head or sill from a single-light opening. Each piece bears the careful craftsmanship typical of Tudor-era stonework, when even defensive structures incorporated elements of comfort and light.

The castle’s story didn’t end with decay, however. Sometime in the late 17th or early 18th century, as Ireland emerged from decades of warfare and upheaval, the old tower house was replaced by the current Clonbrogan House. This transformation from medieval fortress to Georgian residence mirrors a pattern seen across Ireland, as the necessity for defence gave way to a desire for comfort and modern living. The architectural fragments preserved in the grounds serve as a reminder of the site’s longer history, bridging centuries of Irish life in this corner of Tipperary.