Castle Hyde (in Ruins) — Report the wrong picture

What is recorded here

Ivymonster Castle Hyde crouches on the Blackwater cliff, its northern wall and triangular spur still throwing shadows across the river while the rest has surrendered to earth and vine. Arthur Hyde received it in 1588 after John Meaghe leased a vaulted, iron-chained stronghold that a Condon family had built to watch the water. What remains is enough to imagine: a guarded doorway, a hidden chamber cut into the corner, and gunloops aimed at approaches no longer needed. The castle does not need completeness to keep its warning; the river and ivy have finished what decay began.

On cliff edge, overlooking Blackwater River to S. Rectangular tower house, at least 5 storeys high, but only N wall (L 13.25m) with returns of W wall (L 6.3m) and E wall (L 4m) now stand; a triangular projecting spur has been added to NE corner (see plan in Cotter 1994, 111). Entire structure clad with ivy. Entrance was via ground-floor doorway near N end of E wall; only N jamb of door survives. Inside doorway traces of lobby survive from which lintelled doorway leads N to vaulted guardroom (2.1m N-S; 1.8m E-W); slit window in E wall has been blocked by defensive spur on NE corner; splayed gun loop at S end of E wall covers doorway. Tower had vaults (axes E-W) over 1st and 3rd floors; only springings of these survive, along N wall. Inserted angled gunloop on N wall at ground-floor level covers NW wall of spur. Damaged fireplace on 2nd floor near E end of N wall; tapered corbel on E side to support missing arch. Spur on NE corner (ext. L of sides 7m) has vaulted chamber at 1st-floor level, fireplace at NE angle; now entered by inserted external doorway approached by steps, in angle between N wall of tower house and NW side of spur; probably modified from gunloop as are rebuilt window opes in NW and SE sides of spur. Original access from tower house via doorway broken through N wall into oval chamber mined out of NE corner; partially blocked ope in S wall of chamber may have provided access to mural passage in E wall of tower house. Similar spurs exist at Mashanaglass (9481) and Carrignacurra (9468). Originally a Condon castle, known as Carriganeide (Grove White 1905-25, vol. 2, 88). Leased to John Meaghe in 1587 and described in that lease as 'strongly built upon the river Broadwater, and containing 42 feet by 34, being in height four storeys double vaulted and covered with thatch, as yet scarce finished. The castle has in the north-east corner a spur which commandeth the sides of the castle, and in the south-east corner a foundation of a flanker upon the top of the castle which commandeth the other two sides. At the entry into the castle there is a door of iron double chained and strong for defence' (ibid., 89); latter feature probably a yett though evidence for this no longer survives (Cotter ibid., 124). In 1588 the castle was granted to Arthur Hyde, from whom it takes its present name (ibid.). Castle Hyde country house (14869) c. 50m to SE. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

Built in the late 15th or early 16th century, Castle Hyde was likely constructed by the McCarthy family, a prominent Gaelic-Irish clan in the region. Its strategic position on a cliff overlooking the Blackwater River highlights its importance in controlling local trade routes and defending against English incursions during the late medieval period.

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