Tyrrellspass Castle: A Medieval Tower House in Ireland
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 4.4
- Popularity
- Medium
- Country
- Ireland
- Primary era
- Medieval
- Eras represented
- Medieval
- Civilizations
- Norman
- Site type
- Military
- Remains
- Castle
On this page5 sections
History
Tyrrellspass Castle is a medieval tower house in Ireland, dating from around 1411 and associated with the Tyrrell family, who came to Ireland around the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion. It is the only surviving castle of the Tyrrell family. An earlier castle stood on the site, although little is known about it.
The Tyrrell Family and the Nine Years’ War
The surrounding area was formerly known as Fartullagh. In 1597, Captain Richard Tyrrell, an Irish military commander and leading ally of Hugh O’Neill, defeated forces of the English Crown at the Battle of Tyrrellspass. This encounter took place during the Nine Years’ War, a conflict in Ireland from 1594 to 1603 between Gaelic Irish forces and the English Crown. Hugh O’Neill, Earl of Tyrone, was one of the principal Irish leaders in the war.
Cromwellian Seizure and Later Ownership
During the Cromwellian invasion of 1650, Oliver Cromwell’s forces reportedly seized the castle and used it as a prison. Cromwell was the English parliamentary military and political leader whose forces conquered much of Ireland during campaigns beginning in 1649 and 1650. The castle’s occupants suffered greatly during this period, and many people were executed.
The Rochfort family acquired the castle and the surrounding estate soon afterward. The family later became the Earls of Belvedere. In 1796, the 2nd Earl of Belvedere leased the building to the army for use as a barracks. Ownership passed in 1850 to Charles Brinsley Marlay, the grandson of the 1st Earl of Belvedere’s only daughter. It later passed to Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Howard-Bury, an explorer, who sold the houses on the estate.
Restoration and Reuse
After a turbulent history that included repeated intrusions, Tyrrellspass Castle was extensively restored in the 1970s by the Mullingar architect Philip Ginnell. It then became his family residence. In the early 1990s, the building was converted into a modern restaurant. It operates as Tyrrellspass Castle Restaurant and hosts medieval-style banquets.
Remains
Tyrrellspass Castle stands southwest of Tyrrellspass village in County Westmeath and rises approximately 20 metres. It is a stone-built tower house, or lowland castle, formed from a tower and other stone-built elements. A tower house is a fortified stone residence arranged vertically around stacked chambers, combining domestic accommodation with defense. The rooms at Tyrrellspass are arranged in superimposed chambers, reflecting this compact defensive design.
The original spiral staircase survives within the building. Beside the entrance, a murder-hole allowed defenders to attack intruders from above, while loopholes and other defensive installations strengthened the castle’s protective function. One original roof beam, dated to 1280, is displayed as an exposed beam in the restaurant lounge.
