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On N bank of Blackwater River. Ruined tower on cliff edge, c. 40m SE of fortified house (14373), is sole obvious surviving element of castle which predated fortified house on same site (Leask 1944, 23). South wall (int. L 7m), with return of E wall (L 3.2m) and W wall (L 1.1m), stands to max. height of c. 5m; wide breach in centre of S wall. At W end of S wall is shallow projection (D 0.5m) containing garderobe shaft and exit chute. Present remains built on foundations of earlier structure which may be part of earlier castle.
Castle of the Earls of Desmond, forfeited in late-16th century after Desmond rebellion (Berry 1893, 21-5); probably destroyed soon after to make way for house. Description of buildings here in 1584 (ibid.) details a hall with tower at W end, contained within a bawn and two courtyards. Hall was two storeys high with vault over ground floor; flight of stone steps led from ground level to 1st-floor room which measured 60 ft. x 26ft. with a high thatched roof. Tower was five storeys high with vault over 3rd floor. This description suggests typical late-medieval tower house and bawn (stone-built vaulted hall not typical though similar feature at Askeaton, Co. Limerick); tower which survives probably mural tower on bawn wall.
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
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