Clonamicklon Castle

Clonamicklon Castle, County Tipperary
Photo © Mike Searle, 4 October 2009

Clonamicklon lies to the SE of Gortnahoo. It dates back to the time it was founded by John Butler, the Earl of Carrick's youngest son in the early 14th century.

There are some slight remains of a portcullis slot over the gateway, and a squinch arch joins the second storey of the circular SW tower on the left to the south curtain wall. It has mullioned windows with hoodmoulds at the upper levels, and this together with the gable and surmounting chimneystack all suggest a date possibly as late as 1628. The other circular tower at the SE corner is slightly smaller. Modern farm buildings now fill the east and west sides of the court, where once stood the missing NE corner.

The north side retains the north and east walls of a three to four storey building of uncertain date. In 1656 the castle was forfeited by the Butlers, and later leased to the Cooke family.