Burncourt Castle

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

From 1639 on, Burncourt Castle was built for Richard Everard, 1st Baronet of Ballyboy, and was thus originally known as Everard's Castle. Everard first resided at Ballyboy Castle with his wife Catherine, and moved to his new castle in 1641.

This was just at the start of the Irish Rebellion of 1641, during which Sir Richard joined the Catholic Confederates in Kilkenny in 1642, while his wife stayed home. One source states that in 1649, as Cromwell's forces advanced on Everard's Castle, Lady Catherine burned it down to prevent it from being occupied. Another source states it was actually seized by Cromwell in January 1650, who then left a garrison here, and that the garrison was responsible for it burning down. Either way, it was never restored and remained a ruin ever since, and its name changed to a contraction of 'burned court'.

The castle was actually a fortified house and consisted of a rectangular main block with square corner towers. The front and back gables of the main block were equipped with corbels to support a machicolation.

At present, Burncourt Castle is situated on the premises of a private home and farm. So, it can not freely be visited. I was kindly allowed by the owners to walk around for some pictures. A very nice ruin. I like its symmetry.

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