Drumnamahane

Drumnamahane (Dromainn na Meatháin in Irish Language) is a townland in the historic Barony of Ormond Lower in North Tipperary, Ireland^[1][2]

It derives its name from the Irish 'Dromainn', meaning a 'ridge'^[3], and 'na Meatháin', the genitive case pertaining to the family name, Mahon, or O'Mahon. Therefore an English translation would be 'Mahon's/ O'Mahon's Ridge'.

The most striking architectural feature of the area is a large tower house, now totally derelict^[4]. It belonged to Stephen McEgan and was made over to Nicholas White at the Cromwellian settlement when the latter was awarded lands in Ireland. It is a square castle 47 ft by 35 ft and the walls are 7 ft thick. It belongs to the 14th Century. It was originally five storeys high, with the second floor resting on a stone arch. The walls were well grouted and the stone staircase passed through the thickness of the south and east walls. The windows were rectangular and constructed of chiselled limestone^[5].

References

1. ^ http://www.logainm.ie/Viewer.aspx?text=Dromainn+na+meatháin
2. ^ http://www.irelandgenweb.com/~irltip/townlands/Drumnamahane.htm
3. ^ http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a918891671
4. ^ http://www.phouka.com/tr/ireland/photos/castles/drumnahane/01-drun.htm
5. ^ http://borrisokane.com/index.php?page=history&id=17