Kilcrea Castle (in Ruins) — Kilcrea

In flat marshy area, c. 50m S of river Bride; Kilcrea friary (CO084-024002-) clearly visible c. 500m to E. Rectangular 5-storey tower (15m E-W; 11.2m N-S) with rectangular bawn attached on E side (11.2m N-S; 14.3m E-W) (see plan, Westropp 1908, opp. 175); these sit atop low rounded oval-shaped mound (53.3m E-W; 41m N-S) surrounded by water-logged fosse (Wth c. 7m); aerial photograph (Dr D.D.C. Pochin Mould) shows arc of wet ground c. 50m to S, indicating a possible outer fosse. Inner fosse traversed E-W by causeway of former railway line immediately N of tower (see photograph: ibid., opp.164). Tower entered by ground-floor door near N end of E wall; surround, recessed in two plain orders, has pointed arch. Short lobby gives access straight through to main chamber; door on S side of lobby gives access to mural stairs rising to SE corner of tower, where it continues as spiral to 4th-floor level. Main ground-floor chamber (6.1m N-S; 9.1m E-W) lit by similar windows in centre of N and W walls and by two in S wall (only one of latter pair shown on Westropp's plan, which also omits W window): inner part of embrasure square-set and covered by segmental vault; outer part smaller and shorter, covered by lintels; each has single square-headed light; lower part of lights in S and W walls now below outside ground level. First-floor chamber, attic under rounded wicker-centred vault (axis E-W), entered by door in E wall from top of mural stairs; lit by central windows in E and W walls, similar to those below. Door on N side of E window embrasure gives access to mural chamber; this contains murder hole in floor covering lobby below; in N and E walls of chamber are cruciform gun loops, the former with circular widening at base; pair of similar loops at base of spiral stairs, in E and S walls. At 2nd-floor level, door on N side of stairs gives access to mural chamber (2.55m N-S; 1.55m E-W) which gives access at N end to L-shaped mural chamber in NE corner of tower, and through door on W side to main 2nd-floor chamber (9.1m E-W; 5.75m N-S). Main chamber lit by central window in S, W and N walls, similar to those below; ogee-headed light in S window; flat-headed light in W window; N window missing light. Lintelled doors in N and S sides of W window embrasure give access to near-identical L-shaped mural chambers in NW and SW corners of tower. At 3rd-floor level access to main chamber gained from spiral stairs via short passage which leads to door on S side of window embrasure in E wall of chamber. Main chamber is attic under rounded wicker-centered vault; central windows in E and W walls; embrasures similar to those below; both have double square-headed lights, missing their mullion. Fourth-floor chamber (8.6m N-S; 11.4m E-W) entered at SE corner from top of spiral stairs; lit by central window embrasures in N, S, E and W walls; embrasures square-set, covered by tall pointed vault framed by pointed cutstone arch on inside edge; each has double ogee-headed light, all missing their mullion. N window much damaged by removal of fireplace which was a late insertion into W side of embrasure; almost entire light of S window removed. All four lights covered by hood mouldings externally. Lintelled doors in N and S sides of E window embrasure both lead to rising mural stairs; stairs to N access garderobe chamber in N wall, with three openings; stairs to S rise to SE corner of tower and then spirals before giving access to wall walk. Wall walk intact atop all four walls but battlements entirely missing. Bawn wall (H c. 6m; Wth c. 1.4m) intact except W ends of N and S walls; S wall rebuilt with thinner wall which now butts against S end of E wall of main tower; W end of N wall similarly rebuilt but final c. 3m now entirely fallen where wall once joined N end of E wall of main tower. Former presence of structures against inside of bawn wall suggested by: opening for garderobe chute on outside, and wall press on inside of N wall; window with square-headed light low down near S end of E wall; wall press at ground-floor level and slit window at 1st-floor level, on S wall. Bawn has 2-storey tower (4.2m E-W; 6.1m N-S) projecting E from S end of E wall (see plan ibid., opp. 175). Large gap in W wall at ground-floor level probably position of former door. Ground-floor chamber (2.8m E-W; 3.3m N-S) has lintelled recess in N wall (0.53m N-S; 0.49m E-W); base formed by stone with circular hole at centre (diam. 0.28m) now just below ground level. Chamber formerly covered by vault. First-floor chamber entered through doorway in SW corner from S bawn wall walk; lit by central windows in N, S, E and W walls, each with splayed and lintelled embrasure and single square-headed light, except W embrasure which is square-set with door in S side leading to spiral stairs which rise in SE corner and give access to wall walk of tower. Window in W wall flanked by gun loops, both blocked. Reputedly built by Cormac Láidir Mac Carthy about middle of 15th century (Westropp ibid., 176; O Murchadha 1985, 58), a date not inconsistent with surviving tower though bawn probably somewhat later in date; gun loops in tower probably inserted when bawn added. 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