What is recorded here

Ballinvard rose in the late 16th century for the O'Hurley clan, its four-storey stone frame clinging to bedrock while higher ground watched every approach. A guardroom hid behind the front door with a gun loop aimed at the entrance, and spiral stairs climbed through rooms stacked like layers of a secret life. Ivy still smothers the exterior, softening the bartizans and machicolations that once threw stones or fire downward. The castle remains in ruins, but its bones preserve the shape of a household that valued height, sight and survival.

Four-storey tower-house standing on bedrock in rough grazing; surrounded by higher ground except to SW. Entered at ground level by door in E wall with bluntly-pointed arched head. Vaulted lobby (vault now fallen) gives access to main chamber to W; spiral stone stairs in SE corner; vaulted guardroom in SE corner (with gun loop covering front door). Stairs rise full height of tower giving access to all rooms and to wall-walk atop S wall. Area over lobby occupied by four rooms set one above the other. Internal partition wall contains number of fireplaces, serving both main chambers to W and smaller chambers to E; stack on gable atop wall. Window embrasures covered by segmental vaults; few lights survive. Gun loops through windows flank most lights. Square-set bartizans atop NE and SW corners; narrow machicolation atop E wall over door. Exterior elevations heavily ivy-clad. Castle of O'Hurley clan, known as Ballinvard (Ballinward) or Rossmore Castle (Ó Murchadha 1985, 252-3; Coleman 1924, 46-7); probably built in late 16th century. 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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