Foulksrath Castle, Anglo-Norman tower house in Jenkinstown, Ireland
Foulksrath Castle is a four-storey stone tower in Jenkinstown featuring a central spiral staircase that connects all floors and a crenellated roofline above the main structure. The building sits within its original protective moat and is surrounded by several outbuildings and perimeter walls that remain intact.
The castle was built in 1349 by the De Frene family and passed to the Purcells in the early 15th century. It endured conflict during English occupation and remained in private hands throughout subsequent periods.
The castle served as home to the Wright family for generations, who worked as missionaries and scholars with ties abroad. The rooms reflect a household that built cultural bridges beyond Ireland's shores.
The castle sits roughly 12 kilometers from Kilkenny city and is accessible from there. Spring through autumn offers the best conditions for exploring the exterior structures and surrounding grounds.
In 1857 an early aviation experiment took place here when an inventor launched a homemade flying contraption from the tower's top using a catapult system. This forgotten chapter of Ireland's technical innovations remains largely unknown to visitors.
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