Clonony Castle — Hotel in The Municipal District of Birr

Clonony Castle: A Forgotten Tudor Gem in the Irish Midlands

Clonony Castle (Caisleán Chluain Damhna) rises quietly from the Offaly landscape, a striking Tudor tower house once held by the MacCoughlan clan. The property was ceded to Henry VIII by John Óg MacCoghlan and later granted to Thomas Boleyn—father of Anne Boleyn—at the height of Henry’s courtship with Anne.

History left its delicate fingerprints here. Mary and Elizabeth Boleyn, second cousins to Queen Elizabeth I, are said to have lived out their days within these walls. Their final resting place, discovered in 1803 about a hundred yards from the castle, remains marked by an eight-by-four-foot limestone slab. Its inscription reads:

“Here under leys Elisabeth and Mary Bullyn, daughters of Thomas Bullyn, son of George Bullyn, the son of George Bullyn Viscount Rochford, son of Sir Thomas Bullyn Erle of Ormond and Willsheere.”

When I visited, the castle was unfortunately closed to the public—a disappointment, given its layered past and rare connection to Tudor England. Still, Clonony’s weathered stones and quiet grounds speak volumes. It’s a forgotten fragment of English history, preserved...

Glorious day ... Just by chance the owners returned & I was welcomed into the castle. And able to get more photos from within its fortified walls.

Got a brief history of the location and how long it took to rebuild.

It's a private residence which opens at weekends. So I did'nt overstay, but I will return ... With dog treats :) So cool inside & decked out with items of the past.

Contact owner if you like a visit. Fare play ... Rebecca, thank you for you're heart warming trust & friendly nature. A thing very hard to find...

We were extremely lucky that the owner of the castle opened for us. Visiting hours usually 12 pm till 5 pm and only open in summer. Rebecca Armstrong graciously open her house to us and told us a little bit of the history. An amazing place to visit but worth booking with Rebecca before hand. Rebecca also mentioned that there was a possibility of renting the castle. Definitely worth a visit. No entrance fee but...