An irrigated tip electrode (36) design includes a shell (90) generally surrounding a plug (96) which jointly define a chamber (37) that is fed with fluid by a lumen (62). The fluid is distributed to the outer surface of the tip electrode through fluid passages (59). The chamber (37) is advantageously isolated from a region of the tip electrode (36) occupied by electrical and/or electromagnetic components in the tip electrode (36). Lumens occupied by these components terminate in blind holes (74,78) that have no communication with the chamber (37). In one embodiment and an irrigated tip catheter (10) comprises: a catheter body (12) a control handle (16) a tip section (14) at the distal end of the catheter body (12) and comprising a tip electrode (36) having: a shell (90) and a plug (96) jointly defining a chamber (37) a lumen (62) to pass fluid into the chamber (37) and at least one fluid passage (59) to pass fluid from the chamber (37) to outside the tip electrode (36).
