Tully’s Castle

Gazing up at Tully’s Castle, one can hardly imagine the tumultuous history these stones have witnessed. Tully’s Castle stands on Monastery Road in Clondalkin, a testament to a time when Dublin was a much wilder place. This 16th-century tower, now a national monument, whispers tales of a turbulent past. Originally part of a larger tower house, Tully’s Castle provided refuge from raids, especially those by the Byrnes, who frequently targeted this area of Dublin. The tower’s narrow windows, now mostly blocked, once offered glimpses of the surrounding landscape, allowing residents to keep a watchful eye for approaching danger. The damaged crenellations, distinctly Irish in style, speak to the castle’s defensive purpose. A row of weeper openings, just below roof level, served to drain rainwater, preserving the stonework. Imagine the residents hurrying up the narrow stairs within the tower, seeking safety behind the thick stone walls. In the 17th century, a building was added to the northwest side of the tower, perhaps as a more comfortable dwelling once the immediate threat of raids had diminished. The Tully family, who owned the castle in the 18th and 19th centuries, left their mark on its name. Tully’s Castle is more than just a ruin. It is a tangible link to Dublin’s past, a reminder of the challenges faced by those who lived on the edge of the Pale. Today, nestled within the garden wall of a modern house, Tully’s Castle stands as a silent sentinel. It invites us to reflect on the lives lived within its walls and the dramatic events that shaped this corner of Dublin.