Castle (in Ruins)

On crest of steep W-facing slope, overlooking Cloghnagashee river. Rectangular tower largely reduced to mound of rubble (H c. 4m; 13m E-W; 8m N-S), except lower part of W wall with short returns at either end, and part of corner turret projecting from N end of W wall (5.7m E-W; int. 2.9m N-S). Retaining wall to S appears recent as does short wall on S side of turret; these may be part of 'recent repairs' noted by O'Donoghue (1914). Just S of centre in W wall, upper part of stone arch of door survives: pointed in two orders with chamfered edges. According to Coleman (1907, 169), 'Daniel MacCarthy built the castle of Carrignavar in 1616'; a photograph of c. 1907 (ibid., facing p. 172) shows the castle heavily ivy-clad but standing to at least two storeys. 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