Castle - ringwork, Marlfield, Patrickswell, Co. Tipperary South
Atop a hill near Patrickswell in County Tipperary South sits the remains of what appears to be a medieval ringwork castle, offering commanding views across the surrounding countryside.
Castle - ringwork, Marlfield, Patrickswell, Co. Tipperary South
This circular earthwork measures approximately 38 to 41 metres in diameter and consists of three distinct elements: an internal bank, a defensive ditch (or fosse), and an outer bank. The internal bank stands about 2.2 metres wide at its crest and spreads to 4.7 metres at its base, whilst the fosse measures 3.3 metres across with a depth of 1.8 metres. The external bank, wider at its base at 3.9 metres, rises 1.3 metres above the fosse floor.
The monument’s preservation varies around its circumference. The southern and western sections remain in good condition, with the fosse clearly visible, though the outer bank here appears to have been built up when it was incorporated into the townland boundary. The northern and eastern portions tell a different story; here the outer bank seems to have collapsed or been pushed inward, filling the fosse and obscuring its original form. The interior remains relatively clear, though some trees, scrub, and brambles have taken hold, with most of the larger trees growing along the banks themselves. A pheasant cage now occupies the northeastern sector, a reminder of the site’s more recent use as hunting grounds.
Historical mapping suggests this ringwork may have been overlooked by early surveyors. Both the 1840 and 1904-05 Ordnance Survey six-inch maps show the location simply as a small woodland area, possibly indicating the monument was hidden beneath tree cover during those surveys. This oversight means the site escaped detailed documentation until relatively recently, when it was properly recorded and compiled by Jean Farrelly in February 2014.





