[1] The oldest part of the castle was built in the thirteenth century, and consists of a four-storey tower-house.

The first Baron of Loughmoe was Sir Hugh Purcell, who was given the title by James Butler, first Earl of Ormonde and descendant of Theobald FitzWalter.

The tale purports that 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 promised the man who killed the sow and boar, could marry his only daughter, and take ownership of the castle and the surrounding land.

This led the boar to run through the forest, destroying everything in its path, to the very spot where Purcell had slayed the sow.