Tyrrellspass Castle, dating back to circa 1411, is situated in the town of Tyrrellspass,

County Westmeath "Noble above nobility" , image_map = Island of Ireland location map Westmeath.svg , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Ireland , subdivision_type1 = Province , subdivision_name1 = , subdivis ...

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

. It is the only remaining castle of the Tyrrells, who came to Ireland around the time of the

Norman Invasion The Norman Conquest (or the Conquest) was the 11th-century invasion and occupation of England by an army made up of thousands of Norman, Breton, Flemish, and French troops, all led by the Duke of Normandy, later styled William the Conq ...

Architecture

The castle is approx. 20 metres high and follows the general pattern of tower houses, stone built, essentially defensive and comprising a series of superimposed chambers. The original spiral staircase and one of the original roof beams dating from 1280 can still be seen today, this exposed beam is present in a part of the restaurant known as the 'lounge,'Alongside the entrance door is a

Murder-hole A murder hole or meurtrière is a hole in the ceiling of a gateway or passageway in a fortification through which the defenders could shoot, throw or pour harmful substances or objects such as rocks, arrows, scalding water, hot sand, quicklime, ...

through which intruders could be attacked.

History

Tyrrellspass is the modern name for Fartullagh, where in 1597 Captain

Richard Tyrrell Richard Tyrrell (c.1545 – c.1632) was an Anglo-Irish Lord of Norman ancestry who was a commander of rebel Irish forces in the Irish Nine Years War. Early life He was probably born in Spain in 1545, the son of Phillip Tyrrell and his Spanish w ...

, a chief ally of Aodh Mór Ó Néill in the Nine Years' War, won a major victory against English crown forces in what has become known as the Battle of Tyrrellspass. During the Cromwellian invasion of 1650, it is said the castle occupants suffered a great deal and many were executed. The castle and surrounding land was acquired soon after by the Rochfort family, who became the Earls of Belvedere. In 1796 the 2nd earl leased the castle to the army as a barracks. In 1850, ownership passed to

Charles Brinsley Marlay Charles Brinsley Marlay (1831 – 18 June 1912) was an Anglo-Irish landowner and art collector. Life He studied at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge. He had large estates in Ireland, including Belvedere House and Gardens and the Jealous ...

, grandson of the 1st earl's only daughter, after whom it passed to Lieut.-Colonel

Charles Howard-Bury Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Kenneth Howard-Bury DSO, DL, JP (15 August 188120 September 1963) was a British-Irish soldier, explorer, botanist and Conservative politician. Background and education A member of the Howard family, he was born at ...

, the explorer. He sold off the houses on the estate. After a tumultuous history of intrusion, the castle was extensively restored by Phillip Ginnell in the 1970s.

Today

During the early 1990s, the building was converted into a modern restaurant. Today it operates under the name Tyrrellspass Castle Restaurant.Tyrrellspass Castle Restaurant, Westmeath, Ireland - Cafe & Restaurants, Steakhouse, Bistro, Entertainment
/ref> It also hosts medieval banquets.

References

External links

Tyrrellspass Castle
- official site

{{coord, 53.386, -7.381, type:landmark_region:IE, display=title Buildings and structures in County Westmeath Castles in County Westmeath Restaurants in the Republic of Ireland