I learned of the existence of this castle because I was visiting the Liscarroll Donkey Sanctuary's website. It gives visitors the directions to reach the sanctuary and mentions the castle.
We went to the Donkey Sanctuary two times in the past, but we never had the time to visit the castle, we just looked at it from the highest point of view of the Sanctuary.
At last this time, after visiting our beloved donkeys, we spent some time around the castle.
It was built in the 13th century by David Óg de Barry and it's one of the castles built in the area to defend the Norman territories from the attacks of the Irish clans.
It has a square plan with long and high walls which link circular towers at each corner. Extra protection was given by the battered walls and a moat. The entrance is in the south (180°) wall, a tall square tower with a barrel vaulted passage protected by an outer door, a portcullis and a drawbridge. Another square tower was built halfway along the north wall. The castle had no keep and the dwelling spaces were timber structures built against the inner sides of the curtain walls.
The southeast corner tower contained a well for the water to be supllied to the inhabitants. This tower is now ruined.
In the 15th century the gatehouse tower was heightened by one storey to provide more accomodation.
It seems that the castle is privately owned and its used as a cattleshed and its courtyard is now used as a pasture!
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