Ardfinnan Castle

Ardfinnan Castle lies in the village of the same name, in County Tipperary, in Ireland.

Ardfinnan Castle was founded around 1185 on the order of John of England, then still only Lord of Ireland, during his first expedition to Ireland. The task of erecting the castle and subsequently holding it was given to the Cambro-Norman knight Maurice de Prendergast. It was built to protect the northern border of Waterford at a crossing over the River Suir, together with the castles of Tybroughney, further downstream, and Lismore Castle on the River (Munster) Blackwater.

The Irish opposed this by first taking Lismore by surprise and then heading for Ardfinnan, which they took after a ruse. It was quickly retaken, however. After that, it would continue to change hands between Anglo-Norman lords, until it was handed over to the Knights Templar and later granted to the Knights Hospitaller. The Hospitallers would build the now ruined round keep in the early 13th century.

The square tower house was added to the castle in the mid-15th century.

In February 1650, during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland, the castle was besieged by Parliamentarian troops, led by major general Henry Ireton. They managed to take it after bombarding it with cannons placed on a hill opposite the castle. With the end of the Cromwellian campaign of Ireland, the leaving Parliamentarian troops slighted Ardfinnan Castle, which partially left it in ruins.

In 1795, the castle was again occupied by British soldiers, because of the threat of a French invasion. Despite it being in ruins, while it still commanded an important bridge over the river. The castle became a training camp, a purpose it held until 1802.

In the early 19th century, Ardfinnan was reinstated to the descendants of the 12th century Maurice de Prendergast. They held it until 1920.

Ardfinnan Castle is private property and can not be visited, but if it is really inhabited, I don't know. It felt abandoned to me.

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