THE TOWER HOUSE ON MAUDLIN STREET
THE TOWER HOUSE ON MAUDLIN STREET [KILKENNY JUNE 2025]
The Tower House on Maudlin Street, Kilkenny
Some maps show this as Maudlin Castle.
Standing proudly on Maudlin Street in Kilkenny, the Tower House is a remarkable 16th-century structure with a rich and intriguing history. This formidable building was once an integral part of a leper hospital, an institution believed to have been established as early as the 12th century. Historical records provide more concrete evidence of a "spittle hospital" operating on this very site by 1327.
The street's name itself, Maudlin, offers a clue to the hospital's dedication. It's derived from the Irish word for Magdalen, reflecting the common practice of dedicating leper hospitals to St Mary Magdalene.
Architectural Features
Soaring to a height of 25 metres, this impressive four-storey tower house features a distinctive stair turret on its south side. Its robust construction and strategic location hint at a dual purpose beyond that of a hospital.
Defensive Role
It's highly probable that the Tower House also played a role in Kilkenny's town defences. Subtle evidence, such as faint traces of a wall extending from its south side, supports this theory. Further backing comes from an 18th-century artwork that depicts an arched gate directly attached to this wall. Interestingly, the main arched entrance to the tower itself is situated in the east wall, on the exterior of what would have been the town's primary defensive walls. This suggests the leper hospital, and by extension the Tower House, was protected by its own set of high surrounding walls.
Note: Maudlin Cemetery (or Maudlins, Trim): This is the site of a medieval leper hospital of Saint Mary Magdalene, dating back to at least the 1300s. The name "Maudlin" (or "Maudlings") is derived from Mary Magdalene, similar to the Kilkenny example. All that remains now is a small ruined church and a cemetery. This cemetery was later used as a burial ground for paupers who died in the nearby Trim workhouse.
The Tower House on Maudlin Street, Kilkenny
Some maps show this as Maudlin Castle.
Standing proudly on Maudlin Street in Kilkenny, the Tower House is a remarkable 16th-century structure with a rich and intriguing history. This formidable building was once an integral part of a leper hospital, an institution believed to have been established as early as the 12th century. Historical records provide more concrete evidence of a "spittle hospital" operating on this very site by 1327.
The street's name itself, Maudlin, offers a clue to the hospital's dedication. It's derived from the Irish word for Magdalen, reflecting the common practice of dedicating leper hospitals to St Mary Magdalene.
Architectural Features
Soaring to a height of 25 metres, this impressive four-storey tower house features a distinctive stair turret on its south side. Its robust construction and strategic location hint at a dual purpose beyond that of a hospital.
Defensive Role
It's highly probable that the Tower House also played a role in Kilkenny's town defences. Subtle evidence, such as faint traces of a wall extending from its south side, supports this theory. Further backing comes from an 18th-century artwork that depicts an arched gate directly attached to this wall. Interestingly, the main arched entrance to the tower itself is situated in the east wall, on the exterior of what would have been the town's primary defensive walls. This suggests the leper hospital, and by extension the Tower House, was protected by its own set of high surrounding walls.
Note: Maudlin Cemetery (or Maudlins, Trim): This is the site of a medieval leper hospital of Saint Mary Magdalene, dating back to at least the 1300s. The name "Maudlin" (or "Maudlings") is derived from Mary Magdalene, similar to the Kilkenny example. All that remains now is a small ruined church and a cemetery. This cemetery was later used as a burial ground for paupers who died in the nearby Trim workhouse.