Castle - tower house

The National Monuments Service's description

On hilltop, within concentric hilltop enclosures (11975, 11976), with commanding view in all directions except E. Rectangular tower originally of at least 5 storeys (c. 12m E-W; c. 10m N-S), reduced almost to foundation level except NE corner, which stands to 3rd-floor level (Cotter 1994, 112-3).
Doorway, at ground-floor level, near S end of W wall, though only part of walling on S side now evident. Ground-floor chamber (c. 6m E-W; c. 5m N-S) had window embrasure in N, E and S walls, of which only fragments survive. Main 1st- and 3rd-floor chambers were covered by vault (both with axis E-W) but only springings in NE corner survive. Part of mural passage evident in E wall at 3rd-floor level. Photograph of 1900 (Grove White 1905-25, vol. 3, opp. 145) shows NE corner standing to 4th-floor level, with sides of window embrasures evident on N and E walls. Large chunks of masonry from tower lie strewn about the site. Since survey of site, upper part of standing portion to NE has fallen (Spring 1998).
According to Windele, hilltop enclosure (11975) surrounding tower house probably reused as bawn (Grove White 1905-25, vol. 3, 144); some internal structures likely to be contemporary with tower house.
Castle of Condons, granted to Hyde in 17th century (Ó Murchadha 1985, 99, 102).

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009