Ballyhandle Castle (in Ruins) — Ballyhandle

Straddling terrace between steep drop to stream on S side and rising S-facing slope to N; rectangular area (40m E-W; 35m N-S) enclosed by fosse (Wth 7.5m; D 3m) on W, N and E sides, steep drop on S side; causeway at NW corner (Wth 7m). N of centre is overgrown fragmentary ruin of rectangular structure (8m E-W; 6m N-S). Walls now stand only to one storey, NE and SW corners fallen. Tower at least one floor higher as upper parts of N and S walls incline inwards as the springings for a vault now fallen. Broken remains of three double-splayed window opes in W, S and E walls. Part of wall (L c. 1.5m) runs N from E end of N wall. Ruin stands in cairn of fallen masonry. Barry Oge castle (Collins 1940, 45); tower probably late medieval in date but enclosing fosse is more typical of 13th/14th century moated site. 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