Castle - tower house

The National Monuments Service's description

Fragmentary, ivy-clad remains of tower on N shore of Dunmanus Bay. N wall stands to three storeys (Wth 14.5m E-W) with short returns of E (L 3.8m) and W (L 7m) walls. Ground floor doorway near N end of W wall with pointed arch, now blocked by wall of farm building. W end of N wall curved internally to form part of stairwell; at first floor level W jamb of door from stairs survives. Central window in N wall has splayed lintelled linteled embrasure. Part of second floor survives to E of centre where a segmental vaulted window embrasure can be made out. Splaying downwards from second floor level on external wall face are gable-shaped gun loops. Exit chute for garderobe near E end of external N face. Probably an O'Mahony castle, later passed to MacCarthy Muclaghs (O'Donoghue 1986, 58).

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