What is recorded here

Castle Marhin rose beside Smerwick Harbour shortly before 1683, probably built by the Ferriters for Admiral Moriarty, who died there around 1810. Its rectangular keep measured 9.14m by 7.62m and reached 6.1m high in 1841, with a stair in the southwest angle and six square windows. By 1855 nearly every wall had collapsed, and even the 1694 date stone vanished after Hitchcock saw it. What remains is an absent castle, remembered only through map names and the shape of its loss.

Ballineanig Castle: 'Castle Marhin' appears on Petty's map of Kerry in 1683 and was probably erected shortly before that date (Hitchcock 1855, 348). It was reputedly built by the Ferriters (OSNB Marhin, 19) and its last occupant, Admiral Moriarty, died c. 1810 (Curran no. 19). In 1841 the N, S, and E walls of the rectangular keep, 9.14m x 7.62m, stood to a maximum height of 6. lm; remains of a stair were visible in the SW angle and 6 square windows were preserved (OSL). With the exception of a small section of one wall, the whole had fallen by 1855 (Hitchcock 1855, 348). There is now no trace of any features associated with the castle; a stone bearing the date 1694, removed from the site in the early 19th century, was viewed by Hitchcock in 1855 but has since disappeared. The castle stood in the old village of Ballineanig on the S side of Smerwick Harbour. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 999. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 7 August 2013

Built by the FitzGeralds, 17th century; important as a historic tower house associated with the local Gaelic aristocracy.

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