Early Mansions

Carrick-on-Suir castle

This castle of the Butlers - Earls and later Dukes of Ormonde - stands above the Suir on the east side of Carrick. It was acquired in 1315, though the oldest part of the castle is a mid-fifteenth-century walled bawn with a tower house in each of its northern corners. There are few defensive features save for small firing-holes either side of the front door.

Image courtesy of Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government

Carrick-on-Suir castle
Image courtesy of Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government

Carrick-on-Suir castle

Image courtesy of Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government

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Already by the 1570s a new kind of 'castle' was appearing at Carrick-on-Suir, where a long, low mansion with large light-giving windows contrasts with the taller, more threatening, tower-house behind it. The age of medieval defences was being replaced by that of gracious living, though self-protection was still very much in the minds of the builders of castles at Rathfarnham , Mallow and Portumna on either side of the year 1600. Another neat juxtaposition of earlier tower-house and later mansion is Leamaneagh

Leamanagh Castle

Leamanagh Castle in Co. Clare was built in the 17th century, and is four stories high with rows of large windows.

Image courtesy of Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government

, Co. Clare, the later part built in the 1640s and one of the last of its kind before the Cromwellian onslaught put an end to its builder, and further castles of its kind. Rothe House, built in Kilkenny in 1594, provides us with a rare glimpse of urban architecture of the late Elizabethan period.

The entrance gate to Kilkenny Castle, built near the end of the seventeenth century, shows the Duke of Ormonde introducing a new classical style of architecture which was to become popular in various guises up to the end of the following century and beyond. The same period saw the construction of Ireland's largest fortification, the grandiose, but ultimately futile, Charles Fort

Charles Fort

Charles Fort near Kinsale, Co. Cork was constructed in the late 17th century on the site of an earlier coastal fortification. It is a classic example of a star-shaped fort and has five bastions. The two seaward bastions, the Devil's and the Charles' were for defending the harbour and both are casemated - that is, they have gun embrasures inside as well as on top of the walls.

Image courtesy of Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government

near Kinsale. It is a star-shaped fort built in the style of Vauban by William Robinson, who was also engaged in erecting the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, the oldest surviving public building in Ireland, and one which looks forward to developments in the eighteenth century.

Gallery

Kilkenny Castle

In 1661, Kilkenny Castle was remodelled as a "modern" château by the Duke of Ormonde after his return from exile. A new entrance gateway in the south wall was built around this time.

Image courtesy of Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government

Kilkenny Castle - Image courtesy of Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government

Rothe House

Built by wealthy merchant John Rothe 1594, this house is typical of the type of home a comfortably off family of the time would have enjoyed. It is in fact three houses, linked by internal courtyards. Now owned by Kilkenny Archaeological Society, the houses have been meticulously restored and incorporate an interesting museum with many displays relating to the local area as well as an excellent clothing exhibition. The building is also the headquarters of the Heritage Council of Ireland.

Image courtesy of Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government

Rothe House - Image courtesy of Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government

Rathfarnham Castle

The foundations of Rathfarnham Castle on Dublin's southside date back to the sixteenth century. It was built by Adam Loftus, a Yorkshireman. The castle was purchased by the government in 1987 and was declared a National Monument. It is now in the care of the Office of Public Works and open to the general public.

© South Dublin Libraries.

Rathfarnham Castle - © South Dublin Libraries.