The Purcell seat on the Suir
Loughmoe Castle is a ruined tower house and fortified house on a bend of the River Suir in County Tipperary, between Thurles and Templemore. It was the principal seat of the Purcell family – the Barons of Loughmoe – who built the tower in the 15th century and added a gabled hall block in the 17th. The castle is a National Monument and sits on low-lying ground that floods after heavy rain, which makes the site feel more remote than its proximity to the R498 would suggest. Commuters on the Cork to Dublin railway line get a good view of it from the train.
A short history
The earliest part of the castle is a five-storey tower house, probably built in the 15th century. A two-storey, gabled hall block was added in the early 17th century, turning the defensive tower into a more comfortable residence. The Purcells were a prominent Old English family who arrived during the Norman invasion and held their lands through the Reformation and the Desmond Rebellions. The Cromwellian wars ended that run: the castle was taken by Cromwellian forces in the 1650s, and the family lost much of their estate under the Act for the Settlement of Ireland.
Nicholas Purcell fought for James II in the Williamite War, taking part in the battles of the Boyne and Aughrim, and signed the Treaty of Limerick in 1691. Unlike many who went into exile as the Wild Geese, he chose to remain in Ireland to fight for Catholic rights. The last baron, James Purcell, did go into exile in France after the Treaty of Limerick. The title was attainted, and after the family finally left around 1760 the castle fell into ruin over the following century.
What you’ll see
The tower house is the most intact part of the ruin. You can still make out the vaulted ground-floor chamber, the remains of a spiral staircase in the north-east corner, and several windows with stone seats. The 17th-century hall block has large mullioned windows, a fireplace with carved coats of arms and the initials ‘FP’ on the first floor, and a gable end with a chimney stack. A bawn wall once enclosed the courtyard, but only fragments survive.
The newer tower portion is five storeys high, while the central portion is four storeys with a semi-basement. The basement floor is missing but its level can still be made out. The tower has rounded corners, gun loops and machicolations, marking it clearly as the older defensive structure. The third floor (now the second) contains the elaborate fireplace. The fourth floor (now the third) was the former attic, but the wooden roof is long gone. A huge chunk of wall now lies in the middle of this floor, and the flooring around it sounds hollow in places. There is a hidden prison chamber on the top floor, but getting in and out of it requires dropping down from above – not something to attempt alone.
Access is through a farmyard – the farmer is used to visitors and welcomes them. From the yard, a short walk across the field brings you to the castle. The interior is rough underfoot, with nettles and loose stone. The stairs are dark, narrow and cluttered with debris. The castle is unrestored and unstaffed, with no information panels or paths.
Getting there
The castle is on the R498 between Thurles and Templemore, about 11.5 km east of Thurles and 6 km from Templemore. If you come through Loughmore village from the N62 road, the castle is on the right-hand side after you pass under the railway bridge before you reach the River Suir bridge. There is no car park – you can pull in at the wide verge near the gate into the farmyard.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | Loughmore, Co. Tipperary (R498, 11.5 km east of Thurles, 6 km from Templemore) |
| Parking | Roadside verge – no formal car park |
| Entry | Free – open access site |
| Facilities | None |
| Terrain | Field path, uneven ground inside the ruin |
| Time needed | 15–20 minutes for a look; 30–40 if you explore the floors |
Practical tips
- Flooding: The Suir floods after heavy rain, and the field around the castle can be underwater. Check conditions before you go. A dry day in spring or autumn is best.
- Footwear: The ground inside the castle is uneven – sturdy boots are essential, not sandals. The stairs are dark and narrow.
- Combine with: Holy Cross Abbey is a short drive south-west, a far more complete medieval site with a roof, a relic, and a café. Athassel Priory is about 20 minutes south – Ireland’s largest medieval priory ruin, and also free.
- Photography: The castle is most photogenic in late afternoon light, when the stone catches the sun and the Suir loop is visible from the field.
The honest take
Loughmoe is a bare ruin: no paths, no panels, no roof. If you are happy clambering over rubble in a field for a glimpse of a fine tower and a river view, it will be your kind of place. If you want a polished heritage experience, skip it for Holy Cross Abbey or Athassel Priory. But if you are driving the R498 and have ten minutes to spare, the tower is impressive from the outside, and the setting on the Suir is genuinely quiet. One for the dedicated ruin explorer, not the casual tourist.