Overview
Templemichael Castle is a ruined tower house on a promontory where the Glendine River runs into the Blackwater, just north of Youghal. Waterford City and County Council’s archaeological inventory records a tower house at Templemichael. Its earlier history is genuinely murky (more on that below).
Is it open to visit? It is not a managed attraction, and this page does not assume public access to the tower or the ground around it. Keep clear of the ruined tower and respect gates and signs. For a managed castle visit in the county, check the OPW’s Dungarvan Castle page for the next opening dates. Its 2026 season has ended.
History & Architecture
The castle is associated with the Fitzgeralds of Decies, a family caught up in the region’s turbulent politics. Who built it, and when, is less settled than it looks. The standing remains fit a 16th-century tower house, but some sources argue the site began much earlier, as a 12th-century Knights Templar stronghold or a 13th-century manor house. The earlier story is unproven either way.
How it ended is unclear. The old assumption is a Cromwellian assault in 1649; a topographical account from 1837 instead says it was blown up with gunpowder. Either way, it was a ruin by the time the church went up beside it.
The church and graveyard
The former Church of Ireland church beside the castle was built in 1823 on the site of an earlier church, and it is now roofless. The graveyard around it holds local memorials.
What to See & Do
Templemichael is a place to look at from public ground rather than to explore. The ivy-clad tower, the roofless church and the graveyard share the same spur of land above the river, and the confluence of the Glendine and the Blackwater below is a quiet spot. Do not enter or climb the ruined tower: stonework is old and unstable, and the ground may not be open to the public.
Getting There
Templemichael Castle sits just north of Youghal, at the confluence of the Glendine and the Blackwater. Confusingly, it is often listed as being in County Cork – it is actually in County Waterford, just over the river boundary. Public transport to the castle itself is effectively nil; the nearest town with bus services is Youghal.
Practical Information
- Access: Not a managed visitor site. Respect gates and signs, and do not assume you may enter the tower or the surrounding land.
- Safety: The ruins are old and the stonework is unstable. Stay out of the tower.
- Facilities: None assumed on site. Youghal is the nearest town.
Nearby Attractions
- Molana Abbey: On Dair Inis (Oak Island) nearby, a ruined Augustinian abbey said to hold the tomb of one of the first Normans to reach Ireland.
- Dungarvan and Dungarvan Castle: The Norman harbour town and its castle, a longer drive east along the coast, with the Cathedral of St Carthage in the town. Dungarvan Castle is the managed OPW site mentioned above.
- Copper Coast Geopark: The UNESCO geopark’s cliffs and coastal walks, east toward Bunmahon.
Image: Castles of Munster – Templemichael, Waterford (1), Mike Searle, CC BY-SA 2.0.