There was an 8th century round tower at Brigown until the 19th century. The basis for the modern town was planned by the Earl of Kingston between 1775 and 1820. He built Mitchelstown Castle, modeled after 1798 Windsor. The castle was later burned by rebel soldiers in 1922 to prevent it, and other public buildings in town, from being used by government troops during the civil war. Subsequently, the site of the castle was later used to house a Mitchelstown Creameries factory.