Castle - tower house

The National Monuments Service's description

In farmyard/garden of Ashgrove House, on N shoreline of Great Island. Small tower (6.8m E-W; 5.4m N-S), standing to 3 storeys, showing evidence of various phases of restoration and alteration. Now entered at ground levelby door in centre of W wall, probably inserted in original window ope. Earlier door set into E end of N wall, altered to take modern window frame; door passage covered by wicker-centred vault. First floor now entered by ladder through manhole in recent wooden floor. Window opes in W and E wallat 1st floor level, both showing alterations. Bluntly-pointed wicker-centered vault (axis E-W) over 1st floor. Opening through vault at S end of E wall leads into base of short spiral staircase in SE corner, top of stairs projects into SE corner of 2rd floor chamber. At this level central window opes in all walls, much altered; inserted fireplace at N end of W wall. Overhead, recent corrugated iron roof; corbels on N wall for earlier floor/roof. Crenellations atop walls of recent appearance; tower may have been higher judging by absence of gutter holes to drain a wallwalk at this level. Apparently built by Barrys (O Murchadha 1985, 31), known as Ballymacshanroe Castle; according to Power (1923, 198) used as pigeon house 'until recently'.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009