Stella Power Design

Cill Cháis (Kilcash) is situated at the foot of Slievenamon, not far from the village of Kilsheelan. The Castle of Kilcash is a very fine tower-house attached to the remains of a lower and more recent building. There are bartizans at two corners, four chimney stacks and a machicolation over the doorway in the west wall.

Kilcash Castle was one of the chief seats of the Butler family until well into the eighteenth century. The castle was once occupied by Lord Castlehaven, a noted Confederate Catholic commander in the 1641-52 war and it was here that he wrote his memoirs.

There is a well known song called Cill Cháis from the early 18th century, which mourns the death of Margaret Butler, Viscountess Iveagh. She had married Colonel Thomas Butler of Kilcash Castle after the death of her first husband.

A short walk away to the west of the castle is the site of an early monastery associated with St. Colmán úa hEirc. All that remains is a ruined church and another small rectangular building which may have been another small church.

The church is of the navel and chancel type and features a lovely, but much-weathered, Romanesque doorway in the south wall. The opening of the chancel arch is still present but no decorated or worked stones remain.

A4 Glossy Print