Castle (in Ruins) — Barnahely

At break in SE-facing slope, overlooking Lough Beg and Cork Harbour. Complex of ruined buildings around courtyard which still functions as farmyard. At S and SW sides ruins of Barnahely castle; on E side remains of Castle Warren house, built in 1796 (Lewis 1837, vol. 1, 187) with associated farm buildings on NW and N sides. Complex now owned by IDA in area zoned for industrial use. Oldest structure near SW corner where 2-storey rectangular building (10.5m N-S; 6.6m E-W) appears to be remains tower house, showing much evidence of rebuilding; later converted to stable/barn. Wicker-centred barrel vault over ground floor; much altered window opes in E and S wall. Running S from SE corner of tower is fragment of wall, with splayed embrasure for blocked light at 1st floor level. This abuts, at right angle, wall (axis E-W) forming S side of complex; W section(L c. 15m) part of bawn wall, one gun-loop evident; W end wall broken and probably extended further to W. E section (L 20m) forms S wall of two-storey gable-ended structure (int.:17.65m E-W; 6.6m N-S) of late 16th/early 17th century appearance. Interior overgrown and strewn with rubbish; adapted as domestic quarters/kitchen when 18th century house built on N side, from which it was accessed by inserted doors. Original doors near W end of N wall, with elliptical-headed arch, and near E end of S wall, with pointed arch. Latter now partially buried internally and must have been approached from inside down flight of steps, ground falls away steeply at this corner; this section of structure masked by ivy on outside face. Also at ground level large, much-damaged fireplace in W wall, with brick-domed bread oven on N side; lintelled slit windows in N wall. Overhead, line of corbels on N and S walls indicate position of wooden floor overhead. At 1st floor level large fireplace W of centre in N wall; inside completely obscured by ivy; on outside face stack accommodated by shallow projection (D c. 0.5m) supported by six corbels; this must have continued upwards to stack, but now ends at height of side walls. Second fireplace near E end of S wall has dressed lintel resting on projecting corbels, with chamfered edge carried down sides. At SE corner door with pointed arch leads intocorner bartizan, supported by five tapering corbels; roof composed of overlapping corbelled slabs. At SW corner second door leads to wall walk atop S bawn wall. E window almost entirely gone but part of hood moulding, with stepped terminals, visible on S side. Just above this, line of gutter spouts show original roof at this level. Front (E) wall of 18th century house built over lower courses of bawn wall. House has 5-bay, 2-storey front, with shallow central breakfront; sidelights flank door; hipped roof, now fallen; NE corner collapsed. Area in front of door built up to compensate for hillslope. N wall of courtyard of recent appearance, formed end-wall of cow stalls now demolished. At NW corner 1-storey gable-ended farm building of 18th/19th century appearance. Built by de Cogan family, reputedly by Richard de Cogan, lord of the manor in 1536; de Cogans occupied site until 1642 when garrison surrendered to Lord Inchiquin after 'a piece of ordnance' was discharged at the castle (Coleman 1915, 4-7; O Murchadha 1985, 81); 1,000 barrels of wheat were found in the castle which had a ward of 40 men (ibid.). Carved human head, described by Coleman (1915, 4) as 'defaced mailed head' sold from the site in 1920s (Healy 1988, 104); possible sheela-na-gig found here in early 19th century but disappeared shortly afterwards (Coleman 1915, 6; Guest 1936,112; Cherry 1992, no. 73). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009