Tower houses are the definitive building of medieval Ireland. This study investigates their significant social role, which has previously gone underappreciated. Innovative conclusions stem from an interdisciplinary methodology that demonstrates the interconnectedness of society, economics and the environment in medieval culture.

The Irish tower house examines the social role of castles in late-medieval and early modern Ireland. It uses a multidisciplinary methodology to uncover the lived experience of a wide range of people. This enables exploration of the castle’s context, including how they were used as social tools and in environmental exploitation for economic gain.

Tower houses are the ubiquitous building of pre-modern Ireland. Extant examples number in the thousands. The book follows the movement of trade goods from environmental exploitation to entry into global economic networks, maintaining a focus on the role of the tower house in facilitating each step. Studying historic settlements provides insights into how people lived, and by progressively broadening its scope, the book demonstrates how the tower house can be used as a medium for analysing the impact of global trends at the local level. Combining archival evidence with archaeological fieldwork and on-site surveys, it presents a fresh perspective on one of the best-known manifestations of Irish archaeology.

Challenging traditional interpretations of the Middle Ages, The Irish tower house finds new evidence for the agency of previously overlooked individuals and new insights into the transition from medieval to modern. It will be of interest to students and academics from a range of academic disciplines, including archaeology and history, as well as castle enthusiasts.

The Irish tower house examines the social role of castles in late-medieval and early modern Ireland. It uses a multidisciplinary methodology to uncover the lived experience of this historic culture, demonstrating the interconnectedness of society, economics and the environment. Of particular interest is the revelation of how concerned pre-modern people were with participation in the economy and the exploitation of the natural environment for economic gain. Material culture can shed light on how individuals shaped spaces around themselves, and tower houses, thanks to their pervasiveness in medieval and modern landscapes, represent a unique resource. Castles are the definitive building of the European Middle Ages, meaning that this book will be of great interest to scholars of both history and archaeology.