A Tale of Two Towers


Lining the northern banks of the river Suir in County Tipperary are a series of tower houses built in the 15th and 16th centuries. That above is Dove Hill (or Duff Hill), originally built on land under the control of the O’Mores. In 1542 it was garrisoned by Sir Thomas Butler of Cahir, but a century later was noted in the Civil Survey as being ‘a small castle wanting repaire’. The description remains apposite. A few miles to the west stands Poulakerry, another building once associated with the Butlers. Unlike Dove Hill, it has been restored and is now occupied.

3 comments on “A Tale of Two Towers

  1. These evocative photographs remind me of landscape paintings by Paul Nash.

  2. Finola says:

    The luck of the draw. One house crumbles, another lives vigorously. One could weep.

Leave a Reply