Carrignacurra Castle (in Ruins) — Carrignacurra

On top of a rock outcrop, close to S bank of river Lee. Rectangular 4-storey tower (11.5m E-W; 7.6m N-S), exterior partially ivy-clad, lower courses of quoins robbed from each corner. Triangular spur projects from SE corner, similar to pair at Mashanaglass (CO071-096002-). Entered by door in centre of E wall at ground-floor level, surround entirely gone. Lobby, covered by murder hole, gives access straight through to main ground-floor chamber, S into small guard chamber (2.2m N-S; 1.6m E-W), and N to base of spiral stairs. Main ground-floor chamber (7m E-W; 5.4m N-S), lit by windows in centre of W wall and near E end of S wall; W window has splayed and lintelled embrasure and single flat-headed light; S window blocked, appears similar. Plastered ground-floor walls and inserted joist holes over ground floor result from recent use, 'as a cowhouse and a granary' according to Lee (1914, 60). Spiral stairs rise in NE corner of tower to 3rd-floor level, giving access to main 1st-, 2nd- and 3rd-floor chambers, also to mural chamber in E wall at 1st-floor level and mural passage in N wall at 2nd-floor level. First-floor mural chamber in E wall (3.6m N-S; 1.7m E-W) covered by segmental wicker-centred vault; murder-hole opening in floor; broken window ope in E wall. At SE corner narrow passage (L c. 1m; Wth 0.6m) leads into spur. Wedge-shaped lintelled chamber (L c. 2m; Wth 1.3m) in interior of spur; gun loops at corners cover external N and E walls of tower, third loop at point of spur; loops are narrow vertical slits with median and base widenings. At this level, in S wall of main chamber, is lintelled ope which appears to be gun loop of type found in similar position at Mashanaglass (CO071-096002-). Main 1st-floor chamber lit by central windows in N, S and W walls; each has single flat-headed light and splayed and lintelled embrasures. Lintelled mural passage in N wall (6.4m E-W; 0.7m N-S) has garderob eopening set into thickness of N wall, mid-way along; slit window on W side of opening; at W end passage gives entry into corner bartizan. Bartizan square-set, supported by three tapering lintels; covered by sloping stone roof; it contains five gun loops of similar type to those in spur. Main 2nd-floor chamber covered by pointed wicker-centered vault (axis E-W); large much-broken fireplace in N wall; window in W wall with splayed and lintelled embrasure, single round-headed blocked light. Main 3rd-floor chamber (8.9m E-W; 4.7m N-S) lit by window near E end of S wall and by opposite windows near W ends of N and S walls; former has splayed and lintelled embrasure and single flat-headed light; latter pair are both very ruined, S window has stone seats along sides of embrasure. Much-damaged fireplace in middle of N wall; directly overhead is plain rectangular stack. On E side of fireplace is lintelled recess, with opening for slop-stone on outer face; door on E side of recess gives access to mural stairs which rise to NE corner of tower, giving entry in turn to attic floor and wall walk. Point of W gable fallen; according to Lee (ibid.), it 'fell in a recent gale, doing a considerable amount of damage to the interior'. East gable, with small attic window, topped by small square stack. Battlements atop walls completely removed. According to Lee (ibid.) 'chief stronghold of the O'Learys'; Ó Murchadha (1993, 220) describes it as 'the tánaiste's tower-house'; according to documentary sources not built 'before the 1570s' (ibid., 239); attacked and taken by O Sullivan Bear in 1602 (ibid. 223). 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