Situated on a low rise behind the main street of the small village of Ardcroney stands this unusual combination of a church probably dating to the 12th century adjoined to a tower-house dating to the 16th century. The earliest church on this site was patronised by the O’Hogan family who were chiefs of Críoch Cian, an area surrounding Ardcroney situated between Nenagh and Borrisokane. The church is first listed in the ecclesiastical taxation documents of the Diocese of Killaloe in 1302. As part of the Royal Visitation of 1615 it described the building as, “chancell up, the body down”, however the church, tower house and lands did stay in the ownership of the Hogan family with Daniell Hogan of Graige is listed as the owner in 1640. The Civil Survey of 1654-56 documents Ardcroney as, “ruines of an old castle the walls onely standing neer the vaulted chappell being all wast”.
It appears that the original church was a single undivided unit and that a chancel was added in the late 16th century. It is likely the church had a vaulted ceiling and most of the visible features date to the later modification. These features include the central ogee-headed window and the cut limestone chancel arch. The tower house is four-storey in height and made of roughly coursed limestone. The remains of a spiral staircase are visible however the north wall has been destroyed. There is a bartizan on the third floor level supported by four corbels, the south corbel on the west wall has a poorly weathered carving of a human head on its underside. The site at Ardcroney is unusual with the adjoining of tower-house to church and the raised position of the graveyard gives beautiful views over the local countryside.
GPS: 52.93454, -8.1554