Redwood Castle (also known as Egan Castle or Caislean Choillte Rua in Irish) is a Norman castle in Lorrha, County Tipperary, Ireland. Irish (ga ''Gaeilge'' is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish. For other buildings in Normandy see Architecture of Normandy. A castle is a defensive structure seen as one of the main symbols of the Middle Ages. County Tipperary (Contae Thiobraid Árann is a County in Ireland situated in the Province of Munster. Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe.
The castle was built by the Normans around 1200 AD, and was occupied by them until c. 1350, when the (Mac)Egans (Mac Aodhagáin in Irish) were installed on the lands.
As hereditary Brehons or lawyers, the (Mac)Egan clan established a school of learning here, which was patronised by the family for several hundred years. Early Irish law refers to the statutes that governed everyday life and politics in Ireland during the Gaelic period. Mac Aodhagáin was the name of an Irish family of Brehons who originated among the Soghain people in what is now central Co
The castle was enlarged and renovated several times, with considerable work in 1350 and 1580. Aside from the original thick stone walls, the building demonstrates some architectural features common to Irish fortifications of the period (including a Murder-hole), and some less common features (including a Sheela na Gig). Fortifications are Military Constructions and Buildings designed for defense in Warfare Humans have constructed defensive works for A murder-hole is a hole in the Ceiling of a Gateway or passageway in a Fortification through which the defenders can fire throw or pour dangerous or noxious Sheela na Gigs (or Sheela-na-Gigs) are figurative carvings of naked women displaying an exaggerated Vulva.
The castle remained under continuous occupation and ownership by the (Mac)Egan families until it was confiscated and burned at the time of the Cromwellian conquest c. The Cromwellian conquest of Ireland (1649-53 refers to the re-conquest of Ireland by the forces of the English Parliament, led by Oliver Cromwell 1650.
The site remained in ruin, with only the thick exterior walls standing, until Michael J. Egan, a Mayo lawyer, purchased and renovated the building in 1972. While the castle remains a private residence, terms of the Department of Finance Heritage/Cultural Tax Relief mean the castle is open daily to the public 2 til 6 p. The Minister for Finance (Aire Airgeadais is the title held by the Irish government minister responsible for all financial and monetary matters m. from July 4th to September 1st.
The castle has hosted several Clan Egan rallies in recent years.
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