Castle - tower house

The National Monuments Service's description

On a rock outcrop is the fragmentary remains of a rectangular tower (int. dims. 8.85m E-W; 5.8m N-S), now heavily encased by ivy. The ground-floor appears to be occupied by a single chamber which was covered by a rounded vault which is almost entirely fallen. The best preserved ope is a window midway along the W wall. This has a splayed embrasure with a segmental-arched head, and a narrow lintelled light. All of the other opes appear to be badly ruined; there was probably a central window in the N and S walls and a doorway in the E wall. There are two wall presses in N and S walls and one in the W wall. Only part of the walling above ground-floor level survives.
In 1841 the Ordnance Survey recorded that; 'In the Townland of Fieries (Foighre) in this Parish are the ruins of another Castle of the same name with the Townland; it stands on a high rock in a valley. According to the tradition in the Country this Castle of Foighre and those of Cluain Maolain and Magh Laithimh belonged to three brothers of the Mc Carthys' (OSL).

Compiled by: Elizabeth Byrne, Ursula Egan and Sheila Ronan, Archaeological Survey Unit, University College, Cork.

Date of upload: 31 January 2011

References

OSL - Ordnance Survey Letters. Letters written by members of the Ordnance Survey's 'Topographical Department' (T. O'Conor, A. O'Curry, E. Curry, J. O'Donovan and P. O'Keeffe) sent to headquarters from the field (1834-41). MSS in Royal Irish Academy.