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

Bawn wall of Ballincollig Castle (CO073-062----) 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