Roscrea stone castle comprises of a gate tower and two D-shaped corner towers, which were originally joined by a curtain wall. Access to the courtyard was by a draw-bridge through the rectangular gate tower. Its chimneys and gables are early 17th Century features, but the lower levels of the Castle are the original stonework. The two towers housed three storey’s, one of which has an octagonal interior called the “Duke of Ormond’s Tower”. Although the tower was much ruined a great amount of conservation work has been carried out in recent years.
Roscrea Castle, built on a former ecclesiastical site, was originally commissioned by King John in 1213 but construction didn’t begin until the 1240s under Henry III. The site was church land, and its seizure sparked tension with the Bishop of Killaloe, who was appeased with land. The castle was initially timber but rebuilt in stone from 1277, led by John de Lydyard, partly funded by nearby silver mine profits.
Originally a royal castle, it was later granted to the Butlers of Ormond, who dominated until the 18th century. The castle served as both fortress and prison, playing a key role in Roscrea’s development from monastic town to military stronghold.
Roscrea mostly avoided major violence due to good Butler-O’Carroll relations, though tensions in the 15th century led to O’Carroll occupation, a 1477 revolt, and a brief decline. The Butlers regained control after internal disputes and restored the castle in 1568. In 1649, it was taken by O’Neills but quickly recaptured by Cromwellian forces. Though marked for destruction in 1692, it survived.
Sold in 1703, it became a private residence and later a military barracks from 1798. By the 19th century it was in poor repair but was partially restored in 1850 and became a National Monument in 1908, then state-owned in 1986.
