Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeCastle - tower house
- Recorded sizeext. 13.2m N-S; 16.55m E-W; T 2.8m
- Condition (as surveyed)Survives well
What to look for
- Wall-walk and parapet
- Garderobe
- Ogee-headed windows
- Bartizan
Picked out from the Archaeological Survey description below.
Visiting
- Promoted as a visitor attraction by Fáilte Ireland (opening times not confirmed here).Fáilte Ireland · official page
Opening times and fees change: check with the operator before you go.
History and description
Situated on a natural ries of ground in flat poorly drained land with extensive views. Adjacent to the 'Togher of Redwood' (TN001-001003-).
Full archaeological record 223 words
Situated on a natural ries of ground in flat poorly drained land with extensive views. Adjacent to the 'Togher of Redwood' (TN001-001003-). A heavily restored four-storey tower house (ext. dims. 13.2m N-S; 16.55m E-W; T 2.8m) with two projecting towers at the NE and SW angles. A central recessed E face with a two-centred doorway gives access to the ground floor. Directly over this doorway at first-floor level there is a relieving arch of a possible earlier doorway (FitzPatrick 1985, vol. 1, 4). The crenellated battlements and SW bartizan at wall-walk level have been heavily restored as well as the upper floor windows which are recent insertions. A large rectangular chimney stack, which protrudes from the wall-walk along the centre of the N wall, has also been restored. A twin garderobe chute exits at the base of the S face of the SE tower and there is a sheela-na-gig (TN001-001004-) under a modern balcony on the recessed E face of the tower. Fenestration consists of simple flat-headed rectangular opes and single-light ogee-headed windows. The tower interior was inaccessible at the time of visit. The tower house would appear to be of fifteenth-century date with later sixteenth-century alterations. It was a stronghold of the MacEgans and was reputedly a famous school of History and Law in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries (ITA Survey 1943).
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Updated 22 September 2008 · Based on the The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
It was a stronghold of the MacEgans and was reputedly a famous school of History and Law in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries (ITA Survey 1943).
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Visitors' notes
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Around Redwood Castle
Other heritage nearby
- St Francis' Church, MeelickAbbey or friary · 4.1 km
- Lorrha Priory of St. RuadhanAbbey or friary · 5.3 km
- St. Ruadhan's Church, LorrhaAncient church · 5.4 km
- Lorrha FriaryAbbey or friary · 5.5 km
- Portumna FriaryAbbey or friary · 9.5 km
- Banagher High CrossHigh cross · 9.7 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 4 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 abbey or friaryArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Lough Derg Blueway - Portumna Water Recreation Park to Hayes IslandPaddling Trail · 4.8 km · nearest point 7.9 km
- Lough Derg Blueway - Portumna Harbour to Portumna BridgeWalking Trail · 2.6 km · nearest point 8.0 km
- Lough Derg Blueway - Portumna Harbour to Portumna BridgeOff Road Cycling Trail · 2.6 km · nearest point 8.0 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Portumna Forest ParkForests · 11 km
- Bathing Place at PortumnaBeaches · 9.4 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- Redwood Bog Nature ReserveNature reserves · 2.5 km
- Rosturra Wood Nature ReserveNature reserves · 19 km
Other attractions nearby
- Lorrha Monastic VillageHistoric Houses and Castle · 5.1 km
- Lorrha Walking, History & Heritage ToursWalking · 5.2 km
- Dominican Abbey LorrhaHistoric Houses and Castle · 5.5 km
- Augustinian Abbey LorrhaHistoric Houses and Castle · 5.6 km

