Castle - Anglo-Norman masonry castle

The National Monuments Service's description

On N shore of Owenboy estuary, on rocky limestone eminence; area around castle overgrown and quarried in parts. Remains consist of two structures: fragmentary remains of rectangular tower (int.: 5.5m E-W; 3.6m N-S) and, at slightly lower level to S, ivy-clad ruins of later building. Tower missing most of E and W walls at ground level; two arched recesses built into S wall obscure blocked slit window. Entrance to stairwell (doorway destroyed) at E end of N wall; stairs rises straight up through N wall to NW corner. At base of stairs is small much-ruined chamber which may have contained garderobe. First floor covered by pointed wicker-centered vault (axis E-W) in poor structural condition; entered through doorway in N wall from stairs; window ope in S and W wall. Only lower courses of S and W walls survive at 2nd floor level, traces of window ope in both walls.
Second structure c. 20m to S: E wall stands to full height (3 storeys with attic); fireplace with flat masonry arch at 2nd floor level feeds stack atop gable. Wall almost completely obscured by ivy. Other walls largely fallen.
Site of early 13th century castle, probably built by Philip de Prendergast who was granted these lands in 1207; Cogans later succeeded Prendergasts through marriage (Ó Murchadha 1985, 78); by late 14th century castle and lands held by Fitzgeralds (ibid, 141). None of present remains can be confidently dated to 13th century though the core of tower could be of that date; tower has appearance of rebuilding, possibly in 16th century. Second building may have been built shortly before castle passed into English hands in late 16th century (ibid., 144) thought visible remains as likely to be early 17th century. In 1568 'the Lord Deputy Sidney ... advanced against this fortress, which he took from James Fitzmaurice after an obstinate resistance' (Lewis 1837, vol. 1, 278). (Coleman 1915, 53-8; Healy 1988, 112-4)

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

References

Coleman, J. 1915 The old castles around Cork Harbour. Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society 21, 1-10, 53-68, 105-12, 156-80.

Ó Murchadha, D. 1985a Family names of County Cork. Dun Laoghaire. Glendale Press.

Healy, J.N. 1988 The castles of county Cork. Cork. Mercier Press.