Castle - tower house

The National Monuments Service's description

In farmyard, on S-facing slope overlooking Ballycotton Bay. Fragmentary, ivy-clad remains of rectangular tower (int. c. 5.5m N-S; c. 6.2m E-W) with projection at NE corner, now almost completely fallen. Remains show signs of much alteration and repair. Entered by door at ground level in W wall. Outer door surround of dressed limestone with pointed arch, rebate along outside edge. Door passage covered by segmental vault pierced by portcullis slot. Straight mural stair rises from S side of doorway. Inner face of N wall quarried, much blackened by soot. Opening at N end of E wall may have contained door into corner tower. S wall appears entirely rebuilt. Part of widely splayed window ope in centre of N wall at 1st floor level.Traces of vault springings on E and W wall indicate 1st floor covered by wicker-centred vault on N-S axis; otherwise 1st floor gone. Built by branch of Imokilly Fitzgeralds (Gleeson 1892, 182); according to Lewis (1837, vol. 2, 73) 'destroyed in 1642; it was afterwards restored, and occupied till 1798'; damaged by gunfire from ship in 1798 (Gleeson, ibid); reduced to present level in 1885 (Healy 1988, 98).

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