Lisnicullia (Gaelic for Fort of the Woods)

This was one of several fortress style castles through out Munster. The McSheehy family had been granted vast tracts of land by the Fitzgerald family for their service to the family. This is one of the better preserved castles remaining. It is nearly 600 years old. Pretty amazing!

Lisnicullia (1998)

The area facing you is where most of the bedrooms were built. The far area is where the great halls were. A medevil castle was built and housed by family higherarchy. The further up in the castle you were the higher your position in the family.

Lisnicullia (2002)

The entire fortess style castle was once surounded by a moat and a wall. Only portions of the wall remain and the outline of the moat can still be seen today.

Also the fifth story room is completely exposed after having had the battlements blown off the castle by cannon fire.

Main entrance to the castle.

That's me up there

The white speck up there is me dangeling my legs over the edge of the fifth story.

Looking south

Con and Elsa Enrights home

This is the home of Con and Elsa Enright who own all of the land around the castle. Con's father purchased the land from the English land owner who held the deed to the land for years, but couldn't afford the taxes any longer. I can't remember who Con said owned it before his father, but it was one of the English families given the land after the English stole the land from the Fitzgerald and McSheehy families.

Main Hall

This is taken from the floor of the main hall looking up to the second story. You can see where the beams used to jet out from the walls making up the second story balcony. That door leads to the second story bedroom and stairwell.

Great hall looking west.

This is where the main entrance would have been.

Lower Stairwell

There are actually three stairwells that lead to the top of the castle. This is the first that leads to the third story. and second large family hall.

One of many ornate loop holes

These loop hole or slits served two purposes. They allowed light in during the day and could be used in a defensive maner to shoot arrows.

Window looking south located in the large third story hall. (2002)

Same window (1998)

Third and forth story family hall.

This is where members of the family who had a higher position in the family would gather. These rooms served multiple purposes. A meeting or entertaining room as well as a place where people would sleep. Certain family members had there own rooms. You can see to the left of the picture where the fireplace has caved in. This only happened within the last 20 years, according to Con.

A built in bench in one of the rooms to the east side of the catsle. I believe this is on the third story.

Looking out over the lands once owned by the McSheehy and Fitzgerald families.

Fourth story room.

Lise and I standing outside the top of the castle.

I took Lise and her brother Kevin with me to see the castle. I am really glad they came along that day. It may have been tricky finding the castle, but well worth it once we got there. Con brought us inside for tea and pie as he gave us a run down of the castles history where I found out that he knew of at least three other castles in the area. Lisnicullia being the most preserved. The only other thing I learned that day was that even though the speed limit isn’t posted between Limerick and Dublin there is a definite limit. I also learned the Ireland has unmarked patrol cars as well. ;)

Sitting on a bench in the fifth story of the castle

Here you can see where the battlements once stood. They are now gone. Preventing archers from using them to hide behind.