What is recorded here

Killonan Castle remains unclassified because its exact position is lost, though two tower-like structures still appear on old survey maps near the southern border. The Bourke family held the land from the sixteenth century, and the castles stood tall enough to catch sunlight on three stories before passing through royal grants and commercial sales. They vanished not with a crash but with a change of ownership, leaving behind a gap where stone should be.

The precise location of Killonan Castle within the townland has not been identified. Castle described by Westropp (1906-7, 86) as following; '1540 Clan Daug Bourke held Cil Lonain (Rental). 1583 W. Bourke, C[astle]. of Killonnan (Des. R., 37). 1589 Ric. f. Tho. Bourke, the two C[astle].s of the Killonans (Inq. Chan., Car. I. 19). 1657 Two C[astle].s named (D.S.A., 4 exp.). 1666 Granted to James Duke of York (Act Sett.). 1688 Shown as two towers three stories high, battlemented, and flanking a wing (Trustees' Map, 22). 1703 Sold to Hollow Blades Company'. Two buildings shown standing near the S border of the townland of Killonan on the Down Survey barony map of South Liberties (Hib. Reg.) may be the two castles held by Richard Bourke in 1589. These two buildings are depicted as two tower house like structures on the Down Survey map of Kilmurry Parish (NLI, MS 718) See attached Down Survey barony map of South Liberties (Hib. Reg.) showing two buildings close to the parish boundary with Derrygalvin and the map of Kilmurry Parish showing two castles. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 14 January 2020

The castle at Killonan was held by the Bourke family, specifically William Bourke, in the late 16th century. It is remembered as part of the broader network of Gaelic lordships in west Cork during the Tudor period.

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