Ballincollig Castle (in Ruins) — Ballincollig (muskerry East By., Carrigrohane Par.)

In level pasture; site occupies steep-sided limestone outcrop (c. 40m E-W; c. 55m N-S). Consists of tall slender tower standing at E side of area enclosed by high bawn wall which follows top edge of outcrop in series of straight sections. Rectangular 4-storey tower (4.5m N-S; 5.3m E-W); repaired in 19th centuryby Wyse family; stone plaque on E wall inscribed "W 1857". Foundations immediately outside N and E sides of tower probably remains of structures, possibly including forestairs for 1st-floor entrance (see illustrations: Harbison 1991b, 78; O Murchadha 1985, 12). Ground-floor chamber, covered by pointed wicker-centred vault (axis E-W), now entered through inserted door ope in S wall; before repairs, entrance through trap-door (Coleman 1895, 21). First-floor chamber also covered by pointed wicker-centered vault (axis E-W); lit by windows with splayed and lintelled embrasures on all four walls; flat-headed lights to E, W and N, pointed and cusped to S. Entered through door in E wall; present stone surround, with pointed arch, of 19th-century date but probably inserted into original door position. East half of N wall of 1st-floor chamber is brought forward to accommodate narrow mural stairs rising to NE corner of tower, and then turning clockwise before giving access to 2nd-floor chamber. Just before stairs turn a garderobe seat is set into N side of stairway; exit for chute visible on external N face. Second-floor chamber covered by pointed wicker-centred vault (axis N-S); window in S wall has stone seats along sides of embrasure covered by segmental vault: window in N wall has flat-headed light in lintelled embrasure: blocked window at S end of E wall. Lintelled door in N wall gives access to narrow stairs in NE corner which first turn clockwise andthen anticlockwise in an inverted S-bend before giving access to 3rd-floor chamber. Third-floor chamber (3.6m N-S; 3.2m E-W) lit by central window inall four walls; these have splayed and lintelled embrasures, and single lights which appear to be 19th-century insertions. Bawn wall intact except for gap, c. 20m wide, mid-way along E side. On S side of gap surviving section of E wall runs for c. 20m before turning at right angle to W; SE corner rounded externally; inside corner is tower contemporary with bawn wall. Wall runs W for c. 9m before changing angle slightly to N and running a further c. 22m, it then turns W again for a further c. 11m to SW corner, where it turns at right angle to N. Wall runs N for c. 12m before changing angle slightly to W for c. 20m; it then turns at right angle to E for c. 2m and again at right angle to N for c. 8m to NW corner. Here it makes a right angle turn to E for c. 23m to NE corner where it turns at right angle to S for c. 4m before veering SE for c. 10m. Here wall butts against much overgrown and ruined wall running WSW for c.4m. This in turn butts, at E end, against wall running SE for c. 6m before petering out at gap in E wall. Area enclosed within bawn walls has noticeable break in slope down to S on E-W axis, roughly in line with Nwall of tower; consequently bawn wall stands higher above ground to S (H c. 5.5m) than to N (H c. 3.5m), though top of wall roughly level throughout. Southern sections of E and W walls, and S wall, pierced by series of roughly evenly-spaced gun loops, set close to ground. These have splayed and lintelled embrasures with flat beds; openings are vertical slits (H c. 0.5m; Wth c. 0.1m) with either triangular widenings at base or shallow horizontal widenings near top, except for one each in E and W walls which have low rounded openings (H c. 0.2m; Wth c. 0.3m). Inside SE corner of bawn is 3-storey rectangular tower; its E and S sides form part of bawn wall. All surviving windows have splayed and lintelled embrasures. Ground-floor chamber (3.2m N-S; 2.4m E-W) entered by door at E end of N wall; window in W wall; broken gap in S wall; 2 openings in E wall are part of series of gun loops through bawn wall (see above). First-floor chamber entered by lintelled door, set directly above door below; window in W wall. Door in W wall gives access to stairs which turn clockwise and then rise as straight mural stairs to NE corner, giving access to 2nd-floorchamber; stairs much damaged and entirely missing N side wall. Second-floor chamber covered by bluntly-pointed wicker-centered vault (axis E-W), part of E side collapsed; windows in S and E walls. Tower probably had at leastone further chamber above but walls do not survive much above level ofvault. Roughly mid-way along S bawn wall is unusual, much-damaged garderobe feature set into thickness of wall at ground-floor level but projecting out from external wall face (c. 0.7m) at 1st- and 2nd-floor level. Ground-floor chamber (c. 1.05m N-S; 2.25m E-W) missing N side, which probably contained door; covered by slab roof but only one slab survives; opening at bas ealong S wall probably for chute. Only E side of 1st- and 2nd-floor chambers survives; it appears that both had garderobe openings on S side; 1st floor probably entered from wall walk stairs to W (see below); 2nd floor has lintelled door in E wall giving access to chamber from wall walk. On W sideof garderobe, stairs rise from E to W across inside face of bawn wall; only a few steps survive; stairs probably gave access to 1st-floor garderobe chamber to E via ledge midway up wall face, and at top to wall walk. Mid-way along W bawn wall, much-damaged rectangular recess on inner wall face (1.6m N-S; 0.8m E-W), covered by segmental arch, has opening at base of outer face, probably garderobe chute. Immediately to N, where bawn wall turns inward, are remains of stairway rising from E to W to access wall walk. Three large windows along N bawn wall indicate probable location of hall; these are much damaged but both windows to W have single ogee-headedlights, whereas window to E had double ogee-headed light with transom. Mural tower stood inside NE corner of bawn and another stood where E bawn wall now peters out to S; both are entirely missing inside walls. Tower at NE corner has remains of garderobe chute on inner N face. Entrance to bawn does not survive, but just before present end of E bawn wall is narrow lintelled door (Wth 0.65m) through wall, possibly a sally port; ground level inside now higher than lintel of this door. Principal castle of Barrett clan (O Murchadha 1985, 15-6), who purchased site in 1468 and probably built most of present structure shortly afterwards. Site unusual in reversing usual relationship of tower to bawn, where the latter is often dwarfed by the former (e.g. Kilcrea CO084-022001-). 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