Burnt in 1922, Leap Castle occupies a more romantic situation than is usually found in the midlands, being sited so that is scans all the surrounding countryside. Originally an O'Carroll stronghold, in the 18th century it was modernised in the Gothic manner and the main building given two battlemented wings. One of these is a ruin, but the other has recently been restored and is now home to traditional musician Sean Ryan and his family.
They have taken on a lifetime's work in bringing the entire castle back from the decay into which it was allowed for fall for much of the 20th century, but just as such buildings took a long time to erect, so their restoration cannot be expected to happen in a hurry.
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