Mashanaglass Castle (in Ruins) — Mashanaglass

In level pasture; rectangular tower (14.65m E-W; 9.7m N-S) with triangular projections or spurs at SW and NE corners (see plan, Gillman 1892b, 234). Now stands to 4 storeys but was at least one floor higher; about 1864 SE corner blown up by 'vandals' (ibid.) so that most of E wall and E half of S wall no longer stand. At ground-floor level, N end of guard chamber survives in thickness of E wall, close to NE corner; indicating probability that tower was entered by door in centre of E wall, with spiral staircase rising in SE corner (no trace of either feature survives). There appears to have been mural chambers in E wall at 1st-, 2nd- and 3rd-floor levels, of which only N end-walls survive. Main ground-floor chamber (7.4m E-W; 5.4m N-S) lit by splayed window embrasures, covered by segmental vaults, in S and N walls, latter has single ogee-headed light. At 1st-floor level, doors in SW and NE corners of tower give access to corner projections. In plan the projections are brought forward (L c. 0.2m) at right angles from side walls of tower then taper (L c. 6.4m) towards a blunt point; projections stand to 1st-floor level and have inclined stone roofs. Each appears to be solid at ground-floor level, with a triangular chamber, covered by a segmental plank-centered vault, at 1st-floor level; these have four gun loops each: one in each corner covering side walls of tower and one mid-way along each side, looking outwards. At same level gun loops set into E end of N wall and W end of S wall of tower; loops penetrate wall at angle from corners of square-set, lintelled embrasures; asymmetrical external splays allow coverage of spur. Main 1st-floor chamber covered by rounded vault (axis E-W), SE corner of which is collapsed. Access to floors over vault not gained; window in Swall at 2nd-floor level has double ogee-headed light (mullion and jambs gone) and hood moulding. Fireplaces in N wall on 2nd and 3rd floors, higher one has vertically grooved jamb, otherwise surrounds gone. Four corbels in N wall, above 3rd-floor level, indicate former presence of at least one further floor. Similar projecting spurs exist at Carrignacurra (9467) which was built post 1570, and at Castle Hyde in North Cork, this latter described as 'scarcely finished in 1587' (Gillman ibid., 234). Gillman (ibid.) dates Mashanaglass to c. 1584, when ownership transferred to Mac Sweeneys (O Murchadha 1985, 291). Well (CO071-096001-), immediately to NW of castle, named 'Castle Well' on 1938 OS 6-inch map; now covered over and used as pump house. 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