Ruin — Ballybeg West

This rectangular tower (9m E-W; 6.8m N-S) is located to the N of Ballybeg Augustinian Priory (CO017-059001-). It is entered via a door with a three-centred arch near the N end of the W wall; the ground-floor chamber (4.8m N-S; 3.3m E-W) is lit by a slit window in a square-set embrasure in the N wall and slit windows in double-splayed embrasures in the E, W and S walls; there is an attic overhead under a wicker-centred vault (axis N-S); part of a vault collapsed at the S end. The original access to the floor above the vault is uncertain. The Garderobe chute exits at the N end of the E wall; immediately S of the latter, projecting masonry indicates the remains of a wall extending to the E; similar masonry at the N end of the W wall indicates a wall extending W from the tower. This is a National Monument in State Guardianship (no. 301). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Photographs attached CO017-059002-_01: aerial view of tower, from SE. CO017-059002-_02: View of the exterior, from NW. CO017-059002-_03: View from the NE, with priory in the background. CO017-059002-_04: View of the W façade, from W. CO017-059002-_05: Interior of the tower, from N. Date of upload/revision: 8 March 2017.