Location: County Kilkenny Map\
Constructed: 15th century by Fitzgeralds of the house of Desmond
Burnchurch Castle, located in County Kilkenny, Ireland, is a remarkably well-preserved 15th-century Norman tower house, celebrated for its architectural complexity and historical significance. Situated approximately 6.5 km southwest of Kilkenny city, near the Clonmel Road in the parish of Burnchurch, this National Monument, along with its adjacent round turret, disused Church of Ireland church, and surrounding lime trees, offers a fascinating glimpse into Ireland’s medieval past.
Burnchurch Castle is believed to have been constructed
in the 15th century, though some sources suggest it may date to the
early 16th century, by the Burnchurch branch of the FitzGerald family,
specifically the FitzGeralds of the House of Desmond, a prominent
Anglo-Norman dynasty. The castle’s history is closely tied to the
region’s complex socio-political landscape, marked by the interplay of
Gaelic Irish and Norman influences in medieval Ireland.
Origins
and Name: The name "Burnchurch" derives from the Irish An Teampall
Loiscthe ("the incinerated church") or its Latin equivalents Ecclesia
Cremata or Ecclesia Combusta. The name originates from an early
Christian church, Cill Dalláin ("Church of Dallán"), founded in the 6th
century by Saint Dallán Forgaill. According to historical records, this
church was burned in 1316 by Robert the Bruce during his military
campaign in Ireland, leading to the area being renamed Burnchurch. The
earliest recorded use of a variant of the name, "Kiltrani," appears in
1225. A holy well in the townland, Tobar San Dallán (St. Dallan’s Well),
remains a local landmark, historically associated with annual gatherings
around July 31.
FitzGerald Ownership: The FitzGeralds, a powerful
Norman family, built the castle as a fortified residence to assert
control over the region. The Burnchurch branch, also known by the
surnames Barron or Baron, maintained the castle as their primary
residence. The castle remained in FitzGerald hands until the mid-17th
century, when it was seized during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.
In 1654, Richard FitzGerald lost the castle and lands to Colonel William
Warden, a Cromwellian soldier. The property later passed to the Flood
family through marriage to Warden’s daughter, Anne, in 1666, and was
occupied until 1817.
Later History: By the early 19th century, the
castle was abandoned as a residence, likely due to changing social and
economic conditions. In 1993, Burnchurch Castle, its turret, the nearby
Church of Ireland church (built c. 1810), and surrounding lime trees
were designated a National Monument, ensuring state protection and
preservation.
Cromwellian and Local Lore: Local traditions suggest a
massacre occurred near the church during the Cromwellian period,
contributing to tales of the site being haunted. Visitors have reported
experiencing sudden chills when passing the church at night, adding a
layer of mystique to the castle’s history.
Burnchurch Castle is a six-story tower house, a common type of
fortified residence in medieval Ireland, designed to combine defense
with domestic comfort. Its most distinctive features include its
complex internal structure, a 12.5-meter-high round turret, and
characteristic Irish-style stepped battlements. The castle’s
architecture reflects the Anglo-Norman influence of the FitzGeralds,
with elements tailored to the defensive needs of the period.
Tower House Structure: The main tower is rectangular, measuring
approximately 17 by 19 meters at the base (flaring to 19 by 21
meters at the bottom) and standing about 33 meters tall. Constructed
from local limestone, the tower has thick walls (up to 2 meters in
places) designed to withstand attack. The six floors include a
vaulted basement, a principal chamber, and upper living spaces, with
the top floor serving as the main hall. The north- and south-facing
walls extend upward to form rectangular turrets, a feature that
creates a split-level defensive wall-walk with crenelated
battlements, a hallmark of Irish tower houses.
Round Turret:
Adjacent to the main tower is a 12.5-meter-high circular turret,
originally part of a walled bawn (courtyard) that enclosed the
castle. The turret, often referred to as a flanker or gate tower,
served as an observation and defensive post. Part of the bawn wall
remains attached to the turret, though the full courtyard,
documented in Ordnance Survey maps from the 1830s, has largely
disappeared. The turret’s presence enhances the castle’s fortified
appearance.
Internal Layout and Passages: Burnchurch is renowned
for its unusually high number of mural chambers and passages hidden
within the walls, a feature that sets it apart from other Irish
tower houses. These include narrow rooms, staircases, and a “secret
chamber” on the fourth floor, likely used for hiding valuables or
residents during attacks. The passages are more complex than those
in similar structures, such as Clara Castle, and reflect the
castle’s defensive priorities. Access to the upper floors is
provided by stone staircases built into the walls, including a
straight flight from the north-facing doorway and spiral stairs in
three corners.
Defensive Features: The castle is equipped with
several defensive elements:
Murder Hole: A murder hole above the
north-facing entrance allowed defenders to drop projectiles on
intruders.
Arrow Slits: Upward-tapering stone arrow slits,
similar to those at Tullaun Castle in County Tipperary, are
strategically placed at all floor levels for archers.
Crenelated
Battlements: The stepped battlements on the turrets provided cover
for defenders.
Windows and Fireplace: The castle features
twin-light ogee-headed mullioned windows and rectangular
single-light windows, typical of 15th-century Norman design, which
balance light and security. The fifth-floor main living space
contains a finely carved fireplace with a joggled voussoir arch and
a massive stone mantle, similar to that in Clara Castle. A tall,
rounded chimney, possibly a later addition, draws smoke from the
fireplaces on the upper floors.
Great Hall and Bawn: A great
hall, likely used for feasts and gatherings, was once attached to
the tower’s exterior but has since vanished. The bawn, a
30-meter-long walled courtyard, provided additional protection and
space for outbuildings, but only fragments remain, primarily near
the round turret.
Comparison to Other Castles: Burnchurch shares
similarities with Clara Castle in County Kilkenny, particularly in
size, layout, and stepped battlements, but its extended gable-end
turrets and complex internal passages make it unique. Unlike larger
castles like Bunratty, Burnchurch is a more compact tower house,
reflecting the localized power of the FitzGeralds rather than a
royal or regional stronghold.
The castle was constructed using local limestone, quarried from the
Kilkenny region, which was dressed to create smooth, durable walls. The
stonework, particularly around the fireplace and windows, demonstrates
skilled masonry. Timber, likely oak, was used for internal floors and
the gabled roof, though much of the original wood has not survived. The
round turret and bawn wall were built with similar materials, ensuring a
cohesive defensive complex.
The construction would have required
significant resources and labor, likely overseen by the FitzGeralds and
executed by local masons and workers. The complex internal passages
suggest a high level of planning, possibly to enhance the castle’s
defensibility during a period of regional instability.
Burnchurch Castle holds significant cultural and historical value for
several reasons:
Anglo-Norman Legacy: The castle represents the
architectural and political influence of the FitzGeralds, an
Anglo-Norman family that played a key role in medieval Ireland. Its
construction reflects the Norman strategy of building fortified
residences to secure their holdings in a contested landscape.
Defensive Architecture: The castle’s complex passages, secret chamber,
and defensive features highlight the precarious security situation in
15th-century Ireland, where local lords faced threats from rival clans
and external invaders.
National Monument Status: Since 1993,
Burnchurch Castle has been recognized as a National Monument,
underscoring its importance to Ireland’s heritage. Its preservation
allows modern visitors to explore a well-intact example of a medieval
tower house.
Local Heritage: The castle, turret, church, and holy
well form a historic ensemble that tells the story of Burnchurch’s
evolution from an early Christian site to a medieval stronghold and
later a Protestant parish. The nearby Church of Ireland church, built in
1810 on the site of a medieval church, adds to the site’s layered
history, with its graveyard containing markers from the 18th to 20th
centuries.
Folklore and Mystique: The castle’s association with
Cromwellian massacres and reported hauntings contributes to its cultural
allure, making it a point of interest for those drawn to Ireland’s
darker historical narratives.
Burnchurch Castle is maintained by the Office of Public Works (OPW)
as an unguided National Monument, open to the public free of charge.
However, visitors are advised to exercise caution, as the site is not
staffed, and the OPW is not liable for injuries or damages.
Condition: The castle is exceptionally well-preserved for a 15th-century
structure, with the main tower, round turret, and some bawn wall
fragments intact. The interior, including staircases and passages,
remains accessible, though the attached great hall and most of the bawn
have disappeared. The adjacent Church of Ireland church, disused since
the mid-20th century, is in ruins, with a collapsed roof and no spire.
Accessibility: The castle is located on a bend along a minor road off
the N10, near Callan and Kells Priory, approximately 4.5 km from the M9
motorway (exit 9). Parking is available near the entrance gate, but
visitors should avoid obstructing access, as the site is on a working
farm. The castle is locked at times, limiting internal exploration, but
the exterior and turret are always visible.
Visitor Experience: The
site lacks formal facilities like a visitor center or restrooms, but a
sign provides basic information about the castle’s history and layout.
The serene, rural setting, combined with the castle’s proximity to Kells
Priory (4.7 km) and Kilkenny city (8.9 km), makes it a worthwhile stop
for history enthusiasts. The nearby graveyard and ruined church add to
the site’s atmospheric appeal, particularly for photographers.
Safety
Note: The castle’s spiral staircases and high floors pose risks, and the
road’s curve requires caution when parking or crossing. Visitors should
respect the private farmland surrounding the site.
Unique Passages: Burnchurch’s extensive network of mural chambers and
passages, including the fourth-floor secret room, is unparalleled among
Irish tower houses, making it a standout example of defensive
architecture.
Stepped Battlements: The castle’s Irish-style stepped
battlements, shared with Clara Castle, are a distinctive feature of
regional tower houses, blending aesthetic and defensive functions.
Holy Well: The Tobar San Dallán in Burnchurch townland connects the site
to its early Christian roots, with historical records noting annual
gatherings at the well, a tradition that underscores the area’s cultural
continuity.
Minecraft Recreation: In 2022, a Reddit user recreated
Burnchurch Castle in the video game Minecraft, highlighting its enduring
appeal to modern audiences. The digital model, built in a single day,
was praised for its realism.
Comparison to Bunratty Castle: Unlike
Bunratty Castle, a larger, fully restored tower house with extensive
tourist facilities, Burnchurch is smaller, less commercialized, and
retains a raw, untouched quality. While Bunratty offers banquets and a
folk park, Burnchurch appeals to those seeking a quieter, more authentic
medieval experience.