What is recorded here

McCarthy Reaghs Tower rose above Kilbrittain as the principal seat of Mac Carthy Riabhach from the early 15th century, watching every approach with unblinking stone eyes. Donal McCarthy and Margaret Fitzgerald rebuilt its heart in 1596, leaving an inscribed keystone that now lies forgotten near Inishannon while the tower itself survived cannon fire, Confederate surrender, Stalwell grandeur, a 1920 burning, and Russell Winn’s 1969 restoration. The circular corner tower still stands at the farmyard’s edge, its gun loops blocked but its drawbar socket intact, proving that even when kingdoms fall and roofs collapse, the bones of a house remember every hand that shaped them.

On top of a rise with view in all directions. Principal seat of Mac Carthy Riabhach from early 15th century (Ó Murcheadha 1985, 54); surrendered by Confederate party in 1642 after attack by ordnance (Healy 1988, 267) and later extensively restored and enlarged by Stalwell family in 18th and 19th centuries (Bence-Jones 1977, 164) but burned in 1920; again restored in 1969 by Russell Winn and still lived in. The house was L-shaped in plan with battlements, towers and turrets of mid-19th century appearance (see photo Coakley 1920, 18) but little of W range now survives while E end of S range still occupied. On E side of house are restored farmbuildings of 19th century date. However, ground floor of E end of S range contains core of tower-house at ground floor level. Doorway in N wall leads into room covered by semicircular stone vault (axis N-S); two original square-headed single window lights survive on N and E ground floor elevations and in NE corner are lower courses of spiral stone stairs. This was probably the tower from which an inscribed stone (CO096-116----), the keystone of a joggel arched mantlepiece, was removed and is now on grounds of Upton House (CO096-036----) near Inishannon. The inscription reads "AD 1596 DONALDUS CARTI ET MARGARETA GERALD FECERUNT" (which Coakley (1920, 23) translates as 'Donal McCarthy and Margaret Fitzgerald made (this tower) AD 1596'). To E of house, at SE corner of farmyard, circular tower (internal diam 3.95m), with gun loops, survives. This is probably contemporary with main tower an stood at SE corner of bawn. It is now overgrown with ivy and has has been rebuilt at 1st floor level. Ground floor doorway missing door surrounds but drawbar socket on S side. Ground floor wall repaired to N but originally appears to have contained six gun loops of which four survive, all now blocked-up. Outer circular openings (diam. c. 0.05m) formed by joining semicircular grooves bored along touching edges of rectangular slabs. Though walls run N and W from corner tower neither are demonstrably contemporary with it and may be part of farmyard enclosure. 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

Built as the principal seat of the MacCarthy Riabhach family from the early 15th century, McCarthy Reaghs Tower was strategically located for defense and control of the surrounding area. It is remembered for its role in 17th-century Irish history, particularly its surrender by the Confederate party in 1642 after an attack by English ordnance forces.

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