Castle - tower house

The National Monuments Service's description

Four-storey tower-house standing on bedrock in rough grazing; surrounded by higher ground except to SW. Entered at ground level by door in E wall with bluntly-pointed arched head. Vaulted lobby (vault now fallen) gives access to main chamber to W; spiral stone stairs in SE corner; vaulted guardroom in SE corner (with gun loop covering front door). Stairs rise full height of tower giving access to all rooms and to wall-walk atop S wall. Area over lobby occupied by four rooms set one above the other. Internal partition wall contains number of fireplaces, serving both main chambers to W and smaller chambers to E; stack on gable atop wall. Window embrasures covered by segmental vaults; few lights survive. Gun loops through windows flank most lights. Square-set bartizans atop NE and SW corners; narrow machicolation atop E wall over door. Exterior elevations heavily ivy-clad. Castle of O'Hurley clan, known as Ballinvard (Ballinward) or Rossmore Castle (Ó Murchadha 1985, 252-3; Coleman 1924, 46-7); probably built in late 16th century.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 1: West Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1992). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009