Derreen Castle (in ruins)

Site of Derreen Castle now occupied by a modern house, in gently undulating pasture, with a tract of forestry to N and a modern dwelling c. 40m to W. Described by Westropp as a rectangular-shaped tower (L 50ft [15.25m] x Wth 20ft [6m]) with gables upstanding and the sides fallen (1906-07, 158). Caisleán a’ Doirín or castle of the little oak wood was described in 1840 as following; 'The ruins are 50 ft. [15.25m] long from E. to W., and 20 ft [6m] broad. The side walls are nearly mouldered away, but the gables, which are covered with ivy, remains perfect' (OSNB Kilcornan Parish Book 2). Depicted on the OS 25-inch map as a long rectangular-shaped structure (approx. dims. 20m NE-SW x 9m NW-SE) annotated ‘Derreen Castle (in ruins)’. According to local information, the remains were demolished c. 1960 and a dwelling house built on the site (SMR file). A long building (23m NE-SW; 9m NW-SE) is visible on the castle footprint, as seen on Digital Globe aerial photographs taken 2011-2013 and Google Earth orthoimage taken 28/06/2018. See attached Google Earth orthoimage. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 8 July 2020

Derreen Castle was built in the 17th century by the Byrnes, a prominent Gaelic-Irish family in the region. It is remembered as an example of early Irish tower house architecture and as a symbol of local clan heritage.