What is recorded here

Ballinroher Castle stands as a four-storey tower house on rising ground above the Argideen river, built for the Sliocht Inghine Ui Chruimin sept of MacCarthy Riabhach. Gun loops and missing vaults suggest a late 16th century date, when defense mattered more than display. A spiral stone stair climbs the northeast corner to every room except the hidden topmost chamber, which still waits to be reached from the main fourth floor space.

Rectangular, four storey tower-house (15.5m E-W; 9m N-S) on rising ground 200m SSE of ford on Argideen river; overlooked from S. Ground floor door in E wall, with segmental-arched head, gives access to formerly vaulted lobby thence to main chamber to W; spiral stone stairs in NE corner. Stairs rise full height of tower, giving access to all rooms except topmost (5th floor) chamber over lobby; entered from main 4th floor chamber. Main chambers well lit by windows in square-set embrasures with segmental vaulted heads; ogee- and square-headed, double and triple lights, some with flanking gun loops. Large fireplaces in N wall at ground and 1st floor levels; S wall at 3rd floor level. Chimney stack atop N wall projects above surviving walls. Castle of Sliocht Inghine Ui Chruimin sept of MacCarthy Riabhach (Ó Murchadha 1985, 56). Absence of vaults over main chambers and inclusion of gun loops suggests a late 16th century date. 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

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