What is recorded here

Olde Court rose four storeys above the Ilen estuary as an O'Driscoll stronghold until Crown forces took it after Kinsale. Its west wall still hides a portcullis slit, spiral stairs and vaulted chambers where firelight once danced on stone seats. The fallen top vault and broken bawn leave a hole in the story, but the shape of the building preserves the defiance of the clan that built it to watch the water.

Rectangular tower-house (9m E-W; 7.3m N-S) on E shore of estuary Ilen river. Tower stands to four storeys but was originally at least a floor higher. On N and W side of tower are remains much altered and poorly preserved bawn enclosure. Tower entered by doors at ground and 1st floor levels in W wall. First floor door gives access to mural chamber to S over ground floor doorway (portcullis slit in floor); mural stairs to N, rising as spiral stairs inNW corner to give access to 2nd and 3rd floors over wicker-centered vault. Vault, over unlit 1st floor attic. Second floor windows covered by segmental vaults with stone seats along in goings. Small fireplaces in S wall at 2nd and 3rd floor levels. Mural chamber in W wall at 3rd floor level. Traces of centering supports for a second vault over 3rd floor but vault itself entirely fallen. Castle of O'Driscoll clan taken by Crown forces after Battle of Kinsale (Coleman 1908, 45). See Excavations 2003, 71. 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

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