Pallasgreen: Castles, Country Houses and Landscape

Pallasgreen is a destination for travellers looking to combine historic buildings with a route focused on the landscape. Castles and country houses give the area a layered architectural history; nearby churches, memorial sites and viewpoints offer more to explore. The “Off the Beaten Track” tour puts its own emphasis on the landscape and distinctive stopping points. This makes it possible to plan a stay that combines local history with trips into the surrounding area.

Castles and historic houses in Pallasgreen

Kilduff Castle in Mountcatherine is a gable-fronted tower house and a 17th-century house. Its ruins stand on the N24 on the edge of Pallasgreen and form a distinctive feature of the landscape. Coonagh Castle, a medieval site, is located in Coolbaun. Together, the two sites show different historical architectural forms and classifications.

Country houses also shape the area’s architectural heritage. Linfield House in Linfield is a country house with a large walled garden and extensive outbuildings; the lodge beside the road is part of the property. Mountsion House combines the character of a country house with an imposing gateway. The Rectory, also known as Pallas Glebe, is another country house, in Moymore.

In Garrane More, New Pallasgreen, the former R.I.C. barracks and the former Erasmus Smith School are protected historic buildings. Another memorial is the life-size statue of Paddy Ryan, erected in 2004 in his native Pallasgreen. Nearby, Pallas House tells of an earlier building phase: the Apjohn family built the house on the western side of Old Pallas in the 1790s.

Churches and viewpoints nearby

At the northern end of the village of Nicker stands the approximately 200-year-old Church of Saint John the Baptist. The free-standing church has a cruciform floor plan and was built around 1820. The church grounds also include the well-known outdoor Stations of the Cross. Architecture and religious tradition come together here in one place.

Two other points offer different perspectives on the landscape. From the old Mass Rock on Knock Grean, the view stretches across the valley to Slieve Phelim. Sarsfield’s Rock marks the place where Sarsfield surprised a night camp and offers panoramic views to the north, east and south. Here, the landscape is connected with specific historical memories.

A route through the landscape

The “Off the Beaten Track” tour starts at Erasmus School in Pallasgreen and includes Sarsfield’s Rock in Ballyneety, the basalt columns at Linfield Quarry and the site of the 1921 Dromkeen Ambush. The return route follows the N24 to Pallasgreen. The tour passes through a landscape bounded by the Slieve Phelims to the north, the Galtees to the east and the Ballyhouras to the south. Its stopping points combine scenic impressions with architectural and local history.

More routes in the Limerick destination

Within the wider Limerick destination, the Limerick Greenway offers a different way to explore: the 40-kilometre, traffic-free route is designed for walking and cycling and has several access points. It connects the landscape of West Limerick with Rathkeale, Ardagh, Newcastle West, Templeglantine and Abbeyfeale. Architectural features along the Greenway include the 115-metre-long Barnagh Tunnel and Ferguson’s Viaduct, made of cast iron. In the south of County Limerick, the Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trails offer a network of 98 kilometres of trails.

When looking for a holiday rental, you can decide which part of the trip you want to focus on. If you mainly want to explore the historic sites and route in Pallasgreen, the town is a natural search term. If you are planning to explore the Limerick Greenway or the Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trails, choose a location that suits your chosen route and daily itinerary.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Ballyneety, Newcastle West, Limerick, Ballyorgan, Knocklong, Tuogh, Galbally, Ardpatrick.

For the main travel overview: Limerick.