Country House beside Blarney Castle — Blarney

Built against retaining wall (H 7/8m) of narrow terrace outside E face of Blarney Castle (CO062-177----), stands on rock outcrop at S end and overlies fortification (see 9465) at N end. Shell of multi-period structure (long axis N-S) survives to 2 storey height. Mid-18th to 19th-century depictions show view front (E) as 4-storey, 6 bay structure with 3-storey tower at S end and 4-storey tower off centre to N topped by narrow crenellated turret. Window opes gable-headed, mostly replaced by 1765 with rectangular sash windows (Day 1911, 33). Embattled parapet wall with decorative ogee-headed niches. Roof has stepped gable to S, hipped to N; two chimney stacks with tall decorated pots visible, one on S gable. (Harbison 1991, 45; Bence-Jones 1978, 43; Windele 1844, 235; Woods 1896, 339) Remains of S half of house, largely reduced to 1st-floor level; rectangular in plan (ext. 15.85m N-S; int. 6.6m E-W) with some rock outcropping on W side; remains of view front (E) with at least 3 large rectangular blocked opes at ground-floor level, at N end is 4-storey D-shaped tower topped with circular brick turret. First floor level of E elevation much altered in recent times; fireplace in internal S wall with chamfered edged stone surround. Remains of E end of crossing wall (T 1.46m) dividing N and S ends; appears to be wall of earlier structure, drawbar-socket on broken W end indicates position of door ope. N half of house irregular in plan, accommodating rock face on W side. E elevation of 3 bays set c. 3m further back than elevation to S butts against earlier crossing wall; 1st floor recently rebuilt. W side of circular tower incorporated into N end of W wall. N elevation bow ended on E side reflecting curve of earlier fortification below; W side set back with remains of ornamental brick detail. Structure survived until recently to parapet height (de Breffny 1977, 55). In 1995 modern structure inserted into interior. In 1702, property described as 'a castle and mansion house' built by the MacCarthys (Windele 1844, 232); shortly afterward came into possession of Sir James Jeffreys who, according to Lewis (1837, vol. 1, 221), 'erected a large and handsome house' in front of the castle. House abandoned after fire in 1820; property passed by marriage to Colthurst family in 1846 (see 9639), who in 1874 built (and still occupy) 'an uncompromising Scottish Baronial' house, designed by John Lanyon (Williams 1994, 71), c. 200m S of tower house. Ice house (9688), bridge (9623), tower (9803), pseudo-Dolmen (9804) in ornamental garden and three limekilns (9706, 9710, 9711) in demesne. 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