Ormond Castle

Ormond Castle, the earliest example of an Elizabethan manor house in Ireland, was built by Black Tom Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond, in 1565 for the visit of England’s Queen Elizabeth. She never made the trip but today visitors can take guided tours of this hidden gem to explore its history and learn about the fascinating characters who lived there. The building contains some fine period furniture and is decorated with unique and elaborate ornate stucco plasterwork in which Black Tom highlight his family’s connections to Queen Elizabeth I.