Coolnalong Castle (in Ruins)

Two-storey house with attic, on ground sloping gently up from N shore of Dunmanus Bay; overlooked from N. Building of U-plan; main block (17.6m NW-SE; 7.8m SW-NE) with arms projecting from NW (6.5m SW-SE; 5.5m NW-SE) and SE (6.3m SW-NE; 5.6m NW-SE) ends of NE wall. All walls stand to full height except SW of which only ground floor stands. Original gables survive atop centre of NE wall, NW and SE ends of main block; at NE ends of both arms. Plain masonry stack atop gable at NE; main SE stack ivy-clad; remaining three stacks are more elaborate with oversailing caps. Machicolations on side walls of projecting arms poorly preserved; tapering masonry corbels with intervening lintels survive. House adapted as farmbuilding and dwelling for nearby Durrus Court; all window and door opes adapted for wooden frames. Inserted elliptical archway in NW wall gaveaccess to lean-to built inside house (some support walling survives); NW arm converted into dwelling with inserted dividing wall from main block. Original fireplace with bread oven at ground floor in SE wall; gun loop in SW wall beside fireplace. House built by MacCarthy Muclaghs, minor sub-sept of MacCarthy Riabhach (O'Donoghue 1986, 58) probably in early decades 17th century. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 1: West Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1992). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 221/1955).