Dunmahon Castle (in Ruins) — Dunmahon

On limestone outcrop (some of which is quarried), overlooking Funshion River c. 80m to SW; Windele suggested it guarded a ford over the river (Grove White 1905-25, vol. 3, 95). Four-storey rectangular tower (7.2m N-S; 5.5m E-W); exterior walls masked with ivy (see plan Cotter 1994, 81-4). Entered through ground- and 1st-floor doorways, one above the other (see photograph ibid. opp. 95), near S end of W wall. Ground-floor doorway, missing outer door surround, gives access to chamber (4.2m N-S; 2.5m E-W) formerly covered by wicker-centred vault (long axis N-S); only springings of vault survive. Chamber lit by double-splayed window in centre of S and W walls. First-floor door is lintelled and gives access to small lobby from which door leads E to 1st-floor chamber (4.8m N-S; 3.1m E-W), and steps lead S to base of spiral stairs which rises in SW corner to 3rd-floor level. First floor lit by central window in W, N and E walls; each has splayed and lintelled embrasure but all missing lights. At 2nd-floor level, door from spiral stairs gives access to mural chamber in S wall (3.2m E-W; 0.8m N-S) which has garderobe at E end; chamber has lintelled door mid-way along N wall which gives entry to main 2nd-floor chamber. Latter covered by rounded vault (long axis N-S) and lit by single splayed and lintelled window embrasure in N wall. Only chamber on 3rd floor (4m E-W; 5.8m N-S) entered directly from spiral stairs (doorway missing); chamber lit by five much-ruined windows, one each in centre of N, W and S walls and two in E wall; W window later converted to fireplace, little of which survives, but stump of stack sits atop wall above. SW corner of chamber damaged but evidence suggests doorway here gave access to spiral stairs leading up to wall walk. Wall walks, battlements and N and S gables almost entirely fallen. On top of a NW corner was bartizan of which only single corbel and some walling survive. Low wall, following irregular line, enclosing area c. 50m N-S and c. 20m E-W, identified by Cotter (ibid., 83) as remains of bawn wall. Almost identical to nearby tower house at Curraghoo (14357). According to Ó Murchadha (1985, 163), 'may have been occupied by the Hennessys at this period (i.e. c. 1560) though there is no evidence that it was built by them'. Listed in 1541 among the possessions of St Mary's Abbey, Fermoy (White 1943, 145), of which an O Hennessy had been abbot in the late 15th century (Ó Murchadha ibid., 162). 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. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009