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Croom Castle today

Ireland · Ruin

Croom Castle

Croom Castle (Crom) is a medieval tower castle at Croom, County Limerick, historically a principal residence of the Kildare FitzGeralds and earlier an O'Donovan fortress. It occupies a strategic bend in the River Maigue. The surviving remains are principally a tall cylindrical tower and stretches of curtain wall now much reduced to ruin.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1220

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1220

What Croom Castle looked like in its prime.

A dominant cylindrical stone keep rises directly behind a low ring of curtain wall constructed of rough grey rubble masonry. The tower is tall and vertical with narrow vertical slit windows spaced up its face; the curtain wall encloses a grassed inner area and steps down where sections have collapsed. The castle sits on low farmland at a pronounced bend in the River Maigue, the stonework a weathered grey with irregular coursing.

Its story

The story of Croom Castle.

Croom Castle takes its name from a strategic bend in the River Maigue, Cromadh, "bend in the river". Until the Norman invasion the territory was the domain of the ancient Uí Cairpre Áebda, whose leading family, the O'Donovans, came from Coshma in County Limerick and built the famous Castle of Crome on the site of their earlier fortress.

The castle afterwards fell to the Earls of Kildare and became one of the principal residences of the Kildare branch of the FitzGerald dynasty. From this fortress came their ancient war cry and motto "Crom Abú", "Crom forever", still used on the Kildare scutcheon.

A branch of the O'Donovans has been resident in Croom almost continuously for more than eight centuries, their current farm held for over four, though they have not occupied the tower castle since the Earls of Kildare established their residence there. What survives is principally a tall cylindrical tower and stretches of curtain wall, now much reduced to ruin.

Step inside

5 places to explore in 1220.

The record describes 5 distinct spots at Croom Castle, including the full exterior approach. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Riverside approach (River Maigue)Field approach from the southBase of the cylindrical keepInner bailey (courtyard) seen from inside the wallsEastern flank (site of later collapse)

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Whose castle

Clans who held Croom Castle.

The families that held Croom Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • O'Donovan

    The O'Donovans, leading family of the Uí Cairpre Áebda, built the Castle of Crome; a branch of the family has been resident in Croom for more than eight centuries.

  • FitzGerald

    One of the principal residences of the Kildare FitzGeralds, whose war cry and motto "Crom Abú" comes from the fortress.

Questions about Croom Castle

What is the history of Croom Castle?

Croom Castle is believed to have been built in the early 13th century as a fortress after earlier attacks on Croom. It first belonged to the O'Donovans, the leading family of the Uí Cairpre Áebda, before falling to the Earls of Kildare. It then became a principal residence of the Kildare FitzGeralds, whose motto “Crom Abú” came from the fortress. It is now a ruin.

Why was Croom Castle built, and what was it used for?

Croom Castle was built as a fortress to secure territory held by the O'Donovans. Its strategic position at a bend in the River Maigue helped protect the surrounding area. After it fell to the Earls of Kildare, it served as one of the principal residences of the Kildare FitzGeralds.

What is inside Croom Castle?

Inside Croom Castle, the surviving space is principally an inner bailey or courtyard enclosed by the reduced curtain walls. The tall cylindrical keep stands at the centre of the remains, but the supplied descriptions do not identify surviving rooms or interior fittings. Sections of the walls have collapsed, leaving the courtyard open and grassed.

Where is Croom Castle?

Croom Castle is in Croom, County Limerick, beside the River Maigue. It occupies a strategic bend in the river, from which the name Cromadh, meaning “bend in the river”, is derived. County Limerick is the surrounding administrative area, while Croom is the nearest named town.

When was Croom Castle built?

Croom Castle belongs to the early 13th century. Its first-raised year is not recorded, while the supplied material gives 1220 as its prime year. The surviving tower castle followed an earlier O'Donovan fortress on the site, so the castle’s history includes more than one phase of construction.

Which family or clan held Croom Castle?

Croom Castle was held first by the O'Donovans and later by the Kildare FitzGeralds. The O'Donovans, leading family of the Uí Cairpre Áebda, built the Castle of Crome. The Kildare FitzGeralds made it one of their principal residences, and their war cry and motto “Crom Abú” came from the fortress.

What did Croom Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Croom Castle had a tall cylindrical stone keep rising behind a low ring of curtain wall. The rough grey rubble masonry had narrow vertical slit windows running up the tower. The walls enclosed a grassed inner area, with the curtain wall stepping down where sections had collapsed.

Is Croom Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Croom Castle is a ruin, with the principal surviving remains being a tall cylindrical tower and stretches of curtain wall. The tower’s two standing walls have collapsed to about half their original height, while the other two have fallen into a large pile of rocks and bricks. The eastern side also has later collapse.

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