What is recorded here

Carrignacurra Castle still watches the forty-metre ford where the River Lee first opened below its mountain source. O’Sullivan Bere and later coaching wheels crossed this dangerous water, while salmon and eel weirs crowded the upstream rocks. The castle did not merely overlook the journey; it guarded the throat of the river where people, trade and living fish were forced through one narrow line.

This historic ford crosses the River Lee c 1km downstream from the village of Inchigeelagh.It is approximately 40m wide and just upstream of a braided stretch of the river. This ford is shown and named on both the 1st Ed. OS map and the later 25’’ mapping. It is overlooked and ‘guraded by Carrignacurra Castle (CO081-017----) which is sited on a rock outcrop on the south bank. It would have been the first proper ford below the source of the Lee at Gougane Barre and carried the route between Macroom and Bantry through the Shehy Mountains. Reputadly used by O’Sullivan Bere and later as part of a Bianconi coaching route. Historically, both salmon and eel weirs are recorded as being immediately upstream of this ford, as well as two footbridges. Compiled by: Tony Miller Date of upload/revision: 13 February 2023

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