Carrigrohane Castle (in Ruins)

On top of a sheer limestone cliff-face, overlooking Lee river to N. Early 17th-century fortified house, ruined in 1640s and extensively renovated in 1850s. When Windele (1910, 252) saw house in early 1840s walls stood to near full height but 'roof, floor and stairs' were gone, as were stone window frames. House now 4-bay, 3-storey with attic, gabled roof with subsidiary gables atop centre of N and S walls. Original features include corner bartizans on SW and NE corners, at 2nd floor level; hood moulding over window opes and string courses between storeys. Built by Barret family; 19th-century restoration done by architectural firm of Deane and Woodward for Hoare family; house still a private residence (Coleman 1910,4-8; Bence-Jones 1978, 59; Healy 1988, 35-6). Immediately to W are remains of earlier castle (CO073-049001-). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

Carrigrohane Castle was built in the early 17th century by the Blake family, a prominent Anglo-Irish landowning family in County Cork. It is remembered for its dramatic location on a limestone cliff overlooking the River Lee and as an example of early Irish domestic architecture with later military adaptations.