Bawn

The National Monuments Service's description

On W side of Castlemartyr; large subrectangular bawn (c. 65m NW-SE; c. 50m SW-NE), now functioning as farmyard with 18th, 19th and 20th-century farm buildings. At SE corner 5-storey tower house (CO077-005003-) standing to full height. At NE corner 3-storey gabled tower (CO077-005004-). Along S wall of bawn, remains of large 17th-century range (CO077-005002-).
Bawn wall intact except at NW corner where it appears to be absent. Both N (L c. 30m) and S runs are straight; at W side it runs out at angle to W (L c. 40m) from N end of W wall of S range. Along here is blocked door with pointed arch, over which is a horizontal stone set inwall with a human head carved in false relief. E run of wall runs from S wall of NE tower, swinging out to SE until it returns W and then S again in two right angles, to meet N wall tower house. Farmyard now entered through rounded archway of 19th-century appearance in N wall; castellations atop this wall are similar in date.

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