Castle - tower house

Rockstown Castle

Caisleán Bhaile na Carraige

Historic site in County Limerick, Ireland.

AccessNot confirmed
National MonumentNot recorded
DateNot stated
Folklore1 quote
PhotoWikimedia Commons

Rockstown, Co. Limerick52.56718, -8.55708

Directions Map

Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer

At a glance

TypeCastle - tower house

What to look for

Bawn wall

Picked out from the Archaeological Survey description below.

Can you visit?

No source says it is open to the public.Most monuments in Ireland stand on private farmland.
Ask the landowner before crossing fields, close gates, leave the stones as you find them.Visiting responsibly

History and description

Ballynacarrig or Rockstown Castle described in 1840 as following; 'The castle is placed on a limestone rock, about 3 or 4 chains [60-80m] in diameter and proportionally high. It is about 60 feet [20m] and abut 24 feet each side, being square in plan.

Full archaeological record 150 words

Westropp (1906-7, 90-1) recorded the following details about Ballynacarrig Castle; '1583 Ballnecarrig C. held by W. Bourke (Des. R., 37). 1600 Jas. Gould held C. of Ballynecarrygie or Rockstowne (Inq. Chan., 40b). 1655 Capt. G. Ingoldesbye held C. and bawn of Ballinacarriggie (C.S., xxi., p. 35), Ballinecarrig (D.S.A., 24). Fabric - A tower standing on rocks, with a wide outlook. It is 50 feet [15m] high, measures 26 feet [8m] by 24 feet [7.3m] inside, and has four stories well preserved (O.S.L., 8, p. 366). Views in Du Noyer's sketches, R.S.A.I. collection (iii. 41a, iv. 62).

Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Caimin O'Brien · Updated 3 January 2019. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.

Folklore and traditions

The Bourkes are said to have inhabited it' (OSNB, 707).

As recorded by the Archaeological Survey · a tradition, not a fact

Beliefs and sayings

More castles nearby

Visitors' notes

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Around Rockstown Castle

Other heritage nearby

Lough Gur ERingfort · 5.4 km
Lough Gur Standing StoneStanding stone · 5.7 km
Grange stone circleStone circle · 6.0 km
Carraig AilleRingfort · 6.3 km
Lough Gur TombMegalithic tomb · 6.7 km
Ballycahane ChurchAncient church · 7.5 km

Recorded within 5 km

61 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
39 standing stonesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
17 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
8 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
4 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
2 cavesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
2 abbeys & friariesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
1 megalithic tombArchaeological Survey of Ireland

Walks and trails

Kilmallock Cycle Hub Loop 3Road Cycling Trail · 61.5 km · nearest point 4.4 km
Lough Derg WayWalking Trail · 68.3 km · nearest point 12 km
Slieve Felim WayLong Distance Waymarked Way · 44.6 km · nearest point 14 km

Outdoors, towns and places to stay

CaherconlishWalled towns · 6.5 km
LimerickWalled towns · 12 km

Other attractions nearby

Coolwater GardenGardens · 0.9 km
Lough GurMuseums and Attraction · 5.5 km
Old Irish Ways MuseumMuseums and Attraction · 7.2 km
The Thomas Fitzgerald CentreMuseums and Attraction · 9.8 km

What's on nearby

Mozart Illuminated2026-11-20 · 12 km
Romeo & Juliet, Ballet Ireland2026-11-26 · 11 km
Christmas Magic2026-12-16 · 11 km

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