What is recorded here

Dunworly Castle is a ruined tower house belonging to the Barry Roe clan, set on the narrow Illaunbeg promontory where the sea presses close on both sides. Its chamber holds a rare unlit attic beneath a roof of two pointed arches and overlapping slabs, with wooden floors suspended above the ground. The building stopped surviving above that roof, leaving behind a small dark room where the ocean still speaks through stone.

On seaward side of narrow neck of Illaunbeg promontory, rectangular tower (5.75m E-W; 4.9m N-S), with narrow gaps (2m to E; 4m to W) to cliff-edge on either side. Opposite linteled doorways at E ends of N and S walls; single double-splayed window ope in S wall. Two tiers of stone corbels and joist holes (c. 1m apart) show unusual arrangement of wooden floor over ground level. Unlit attic under stone roof consisting of two pointed arches separated from each other and from side walls by series of overlapping slabs- only one slad now left between easternmost arch and E wall. Similar roofs are present at Dunlough (CO146-001001-) and Dunanore (CO153-015002-) castles. The tower does not survive above this level. Traces of curtain wall (Wth 0.95m) run W from S end of W wall of tower for c. 4m to cliff-edge. Castle of the Barry Roe clan (Westropp 1914, 115). 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 Image provided by and copyright of Amanda Clarke 2016-2022 https://holywellscorkandkerry.com/

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