Castle (in Ruins) — Report the wrong picture

What is recorded here

Castle Ballycrenane stands as an ivy-strangled shadow above Ballycotton Bay, its limestone ribs exposed after centuries of fire and gunfire. The Imokilly Fitzgeralds built this tower to watch the water, but the structure survived only through repeated rebuilding and eventual surrender to the sky. What remains is a broken chamber where soot still blacks the northern wall, preserving the heat of kitchens long abandoned. The castle did not die in a single moment; it bled away in layers until the bay could finally swallow its purpose.

In farmyard, on S-facing slope overlooking Ballycotton Bay. Fragmentary, ivy-clad remains of rectangular tower (int. c. 5.5m N-S; c. 6.2m E-W) with projection at NE corner, now almost completely fallen. Remains show signs of much alteration and repair. Entered by door at ground level in W wall. Outer door surround of dressed limestone with pointed arch, rebate along outside edge. Door passage covered by segmental vault pierced by portcullis slot. Straight mural stair rises from S side of doorway. Inner face of N wall quarried, much blackened by soot. Opening at N end of E wall may have contained door into corner tower. S wall appears entirely rebuilt. Part of widely splayed window ope in centre of N wall at 1st floor level.Traces of vault springings on E and W wall indicate 1st floor covered by wicker-centred vault on N-S axis; otherwise 1st floor gone. Built by branch of Imokilly Fitzgeralds (Gleeson 1892, 182); according to Lewis (1837, vol. 2, 73) 'destroyed in 1642; it was afterwards restored, and occupied till 1798'; damaged by gunfire from ship in 1798 (Gleeson, ibid); reduced to present level in 1885 (Healy 1988, 98). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.