Fantstown Castle

Fantstown Castle lies in the townland of the same name, in County Limerick, in Ireland.

Some sources stated that Fantstown Castle was first built in the early 1300s on lands owned by the Fant family. It may have been constructed as a sort of extension on to an existing stone tower, which later disappeared. Other sources, however, place its construction by the Fants in the 2nd half of the 16th century.

Around 1600, the castle passed to the Burgat/Burgett family through marriage, but other members of the Fant family kept living nearby. Between 1603 and 1609 the Burgats considerably reconstructed the castle, adding the 2 bartizans on opposite corners, amongst other things. They had a small garrison in the castle. During the Irish Confederate Wars, in 1642, the Burgats led a militia that took part in the Battle of Liscarroll. The Irish confederates managed to take Liscarroll Castle but were later driven out by the English and several Burgats were executed.

After confiscation of the castle, the Cromwellian government granted it to English settlers and by 1666 it was jointly held by Capt. H. Ponsonby and Lord Colloony. Apparently, Fantstown fell into decline during the next century, because by the end of the 1700s it was uninhabited.

In the early 1800s, the castle came into the hands of the Moloney family, who still owns it to this day.

The castle is a rectangular 5-storey tower house. There is a sheela-na-gig 4 meters high up, on a cornerstone of the north wall.

At present, Fantstown Castle is situated on the premises of a private residence. I had a nice chat with the owner, who, sadly enough, didn't have the time to show me the interior of the castle. An imposing tower.

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