Built sometime in the 15th or 16th century, this tower house represents the type of fortified residence that once dotted the Irish countryside, serving as both home and stronghold for the Anglo-Norman and Gaelic families who controlled these lands. The castle takes its name from the de Marisco family, later anglicised to Morris or Morres, who held considerable influence in medieval Kilkenny.

The structure itself follows the classic tower house design; a rectangular stone building rising several storeys high with thick walls designed to withstand attack. What makes Castle Morres particularly interesting is its relatively intact state, with much of the original stonework still visible, including the remains of defensive features like murder holes and narrow arrow slits. The castle would have originally comprised multiple floors connected by a spiral staircase built into the thickness of the walls, with the ground floor used for storage, the middle levels for living quarters, and the top floor serving as the main hall where the lord would conduct business and entertain guests.

Today, Castle Morres sits on private land but remains an evocative reminder of Kilkenny’s medieval past. The surrounding landscape has changed dramatically since the castle’s heyday; where once there might have been a bustling settlement supporting the castle’s inhabitants, now peaceful farmland stretches in all directions. Local folklore speaks of underground passages connecting the castle to nearby structures, though these tales, common to many Irish castles, remain unverified. The castle’s survival through centuries of conflict, including Cromwell’s devastating campaign through Ireland in the 1650s, makes it a valuable piece of architectural heritage in a county already rich with medieval remains.