Glenanore

Detached courtyard of outbuildings, built c. 1740, located to east of Glenanore, latter now demolished. Comprises ornate entranceway to south-west corner having coursed limestone rubble wall with ogee-headed carriage arch opening flanked by pointed arch pedestrian doorway and similar blind opening. Centre of gateway framed by rubble stone engaged columns with plinths having bands, supporting decorative render entablature and corbel table with crenellations above, and carved detail between corbel table and arch proper. Arch itself has rubble stone voussoirs. Flanking copings curved downwards from centre and have similar corbel table but lack crenellations. Opening flanked by cut-stone pilasters to impost level, with plinths and imposts, and arch has rubble stone voussoirs. Flanking openings have rubble stone voussoirs, engaged columns to impost level, and imposts, one opening having timber battened door. Round-plan three-stage dovecote to south, with roughcast rendered walls with string course and cut-stone parapet to top stage, pointed arch blind openings to second stage and square-headed blind openings and doorway to lowest stage. Three-bay south range connected to east side of dovecote and comprises central gable-fronted and slightly advanced two-storey bay flanked by single-storey bays, with pitched corrugated-metal roofs and partly rendered rubble limestone walls and having limestone eaves course. Centre bay has round-headed opening to first floor of centre bay with timber frame having chicken wire screen, and segmental carriage arch to ground floor with tooled limestone surround, voussoirs and imposts. Square-headed door openings to other bays with sheet metal doors. Semi-circular window to first floor rear with brick voussoirs inserted into blocking of larger round-arched opening, and inserted square-headed window opening to ground floor rear with timber fittings. Two-bays of single-storey west range remain, having coursed limestone rubble walls and blocked door with cambered brick arch below rubble limestone relieving arch and having limestone jambs. Four-bay two-storey north range, having pitched corrugated-iron roof and coursed limestone rubble walls with some render. First floor has square-headed window openings with enlarged dropped tooled limestone keystones and timber battened doors. Ground floor has elliptical arched openings comprising two central carriage openings flanked by two pedestrian doorways and all having tooled block-and-start limestone surrounds with replacement sheet metal doors. Three-bay two-storey addition to west, having pitched corrugated-iron roof and coursed limestone rubble walls with square-headed loop openings and camber-headed door openings with red brick voussoirs to west door. Walled gardens to east and north with coursed limestone rubble walls having some recent rendered buttresses. Square-plan single-bay single-storey building to south-west corner with hipped slate roof and coursed limestone rubble walls with pointed arch door opening approached by three limestone steps. Square-plan single-bay single-storey outbuilding to north-west corner of garden having hipped slate roof, now overgrown, with coursed limestone rubble walls and having segmental-headed double-door opening with tooled stone surround.

This substantial outbuilding complex with its associated gardens is particularly notable for its ornate entranceway creating a grandeur which belies the mundane function of the complex. Together with the dovecote, it forms a pleasing visual contrast to the more sedate Palladian-style stables. The formal layout with its gabled centre piece, and the tooled stone detailing seen in other blocks, create a strong architectural presence, while the stone detailing forms a pleasing textural contrast with the render and coursed stone of the walls themselves. These outbuildings evoke the style and layout of outbuildings associated with other grand estates in the North Cork area, including those of Ballygiblin House and Copsetown Abbey. The walled gardens with their associated outbuildings add further interest and context to the complex. Glenanore itself, described (1837) as 'beautifully situated in the midst of picturesque and romantic scenery' by Lewis, is commemorated in the book "The Road to Glenanore".