User:DazzC242/sandbox

Location:

Loughmoe Castle is situated just outside the heart of Loughmore Village which is located between two townlands, 11.5 kilometres from Thurles and 6 kilometres from Templemore. The castle sits on flat ground between the River Suir and the Cork to Dublin Rail line where the castle is a visible feature for commuters on this line.

Castle Folklore:

A local folklore tale surrounds the castle.This tale has been attached to the castle by locals for many years. The story entails how the Purcell family first gained ownership of the castle. Many years ago, when Loughmoe was covered in dense forestry and ruled by a king who resided in the Castle, a wild boar and sow terrorized the people of the parish. The king, who wanted rid of these two animals, promised the man who killed the sow and boar the hand of his only daughter, the castle and the surrounding land. Many men tried and failed. But a young man named Purcell stepped up to the challenge and the king, like he did with all other volunteers, accepted Purcell's request. Purcell searched all over the land of Loughmoe and further afield to find the boar and sow. First Purcell found the sow, this led to a tremendous battle in which Purcell would defeat the sow with a bow and arrow. As the sow died, its squeals caught the attention of the boar who was in another part of the forest. This led the boar to run through the forest, destroying everything in its path, to the very spot where Purcell had slayed the sow. Enraged, the boar ran straight for Purcell. Purcell took the bow and arrow and shot the boar in the jaw; this led the boar to run and later die. The king kept to his word and granted Purcell his daughter, the Castle and the land of Loughmoe.