Pallas Castle
The Tower House at Pallas in Tynagh was first constructed in the 1500's by the Burke's who would have originally been known by their Norman surname, De Burgh or De Burgo.
It later passed into the hands of the Nugent family.
A lot of Tower Houses in Ireland eventually fell into quite ruinious conditions however this particular example has been thoughtfully cared for over the intervening centuries and is particularly attractive and well maintained.
The surrounding Bawn wall is particularly striking with its turreted corners and intact Wall walks and parapets.
Entrance to the Bawn is through a two storey Gatehouse on which is mounted an armorial plaque dated 1719 with an inscription in Latin.
I don't now whether or not this would have been a family crest but I imagine it was.
There is also the ruins of what looks like a Jacobean era house beside the Tower.
I didn't see any signage for the Castle but perhaps I just missed it.
The approach into the site at Pallas Castle is along a very narrow road but well worth the effort in locating it.
The Tower House itself wasn't open when I visited but the grounds and bawn were a pleasant surprise and fantastic to wander around.
The reward for travelling to Pallas is the beautiful views unfolding as you approach what is probably quite rightly often called Irelands best preserved Tower House.
Co-ordinates Here:
53°07'35.8"N 8°21'42.7"W
53.126620 - 8.361846
A few more Photographs of Pallas Castle.
