Woollen Mills — Monacnapa,shean Lower

In Blarney village, on N bank of Martin river. Complex consists mainly of late 19th-century buildings, varying in size, but with similar architectural details: chiefly random rubble sandstone construction, with brick quoins and brick window surrounds; large camber-headed windows with fixed frames; upper lights hinged to open outwards. The roofs are slated but the N-facing sides are glazed. The main body of buildings is aligned NW-SE. The interiors are mainly open plan, with wooden floors supported by iron columns. At NW end is a rectangular, 3-storey, 5-bay structure (long axis NE-SW); stone quoins; chimney stacks atop gables. Large spinning mill was added to SE side, using side-wall of above structure. Spinning mill (now shop and knitting unit) is a 3-storey, double-gable-ended structure; datestone on N elevation reads: "Rebuilt O'Mahony & Brothers 1870". Extended by 3 bays to SE, using identical architectural style; built over tail-race channel. The addition uses side-wall of earlier structure at SE end; this latter is L-shaped 3-storey structure (long axis NE-SW); stone quoins; brick addition to SE makes rectangular ground plan. To NE of spinning mill is rectangular 4-bay, 3-storey powerhouse (long axis N-S), built against high ground to N; ground and 1st floors stone-built, 2nd floor brick-built; gable-ended to N, hipped roof to S. Wheel-pit (now infilled) along E elevation; remains of brick lining of wheel-pit evident on E wall of powerhouse. Millrace (now dry) approached from E along high ground, behind terraces of millhouses, where it meets E wall of powerhouse and turns sharply to S, falling c. 7m into wheel-pit. To SE of above complex is carding mill (now a restaurant); 2-storey, rectangular structure with triple hipped roof; ground floor random rubble sandstone construction; 1st floor of brick. SW elevation of 10 bays; NW elevation shows signs of rebuilding. Carding room and hoisery section were on ground and 1st floor respectively. N part of SE wall used by later 3-storey, double-gable-ended structure (now a hotel); SW elevation of 14 bays; yarns were wound and partially spun in the upper floors, ground floor accommodated the hosiery section started in 1926 (O'Mahony 1989, 44). Two-storey addition to rear, at W end. Short distance to N is long 2-storey rectangular structure (long axis NE-SW); formerly stables with oat loft overhead; also accommodated a canteen. Weaving sheds at SE end of complex attached to spinning mill at SW end; series of nine 1-storey, broad gable-ended buildings; chimney stacks on SE gables; river flows along SE wall. Part of interior modernized but much still open plan with iron columns. This housed mainly Dobcross looms; also accommodated the "invisible menders", tweed shop, steamer's and carpenter's workshop. To SW of spinning mill is late 19th-century 2-storey residential house, originally free-standing but recently attached to spinning mill. Original entrance to mill complex on NE side; entrance to house and grounds, with gate lodge, on NW side, this has now been converted into main entrance to "Blarney Woollen Mills". Across river, to N of mills, overgrown ruin with adjacent infilled cleaning ponds. Millpond located c. 1km to N on Martin River; sluice at S end fed millrace. Close to mills are terraces of 2-storey houses, with rounded tarred roofs, built between 1806 and 1892 (Meehan 1979, 19-20). Mills were purchased by Martin O'Mahony in 1824 (Morley 1991; O'Mahony 1989, 37; O'Mahony 1994, 84) who converted the old cotton and flax mill to woollen production. Woollen mills indicated on 1842 OS 6-inch map as irregular in plan, long axis NW-SE, on W end of present complex; mills burnt in 1869 but rebuilt shortly afterwards and again extended in 1880. In 1880s some 800 people were employed; the equipment included '113 power looms for weaving, 2,000 spindles for worsted spinning, 9,000 for woollen spinning and 2,300 for twisting' (O'Mahony 1994, 85). Closed 1975 and machinery and furnishings removed. Part of complex later reopened as a commercial outlet named "Blarney Woollen Mills". The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009