Clomantagh Castle

Clomantagh Castle is a 15th-century stone tower set alongside a Victorian farmhouse on a working farm in County Kilkenny. The two structures are connected through passages and surrounded by defensive walls that once protected the property.

This tower was built in the 1430s and initially belonged to the Earl of Ormond until 1539. The property changed hands to Richard Butler and later faced confiscation during Cromwell's military campaign in Ireland.

A Sheela na gig carved into the stone walls reflects ancient Irish symbol traditions and their meanings tied to protection and fertility. These rarely seen figures offer insight into the beliefs held by people who built and inhabited such fortifications.

The site operates as holiday accommodation managed by the Irish Landmark Trust, with rooms distributed across both buildings. Visitors arriving as guests should plan to explore both the tower and farmhouse sections during their stay.

Underground and ground-floor passages connect the 15th-century tower to the 19th-century farmhouse, allowing visitors to walk between two eras. This physical link reveals how buildings were adapted and reused across centuries to serve different purposes.

Location: Clomantagh Lower

GPS coordinates: 52.72550,-7.48530

Latest update: December 9, 2025 20:26