Poulnalong Castle (in Ruins) — Ship-Pool

On steeply-sloping E bank of Bandon river; road skirts structure on E side from which ground falls steeply to river's edge, ground level on E side at same height as 1st floor on W side. All accessible opes blocked; access to interior not gained. Rectangular tower (10.4m E-W; 8m N-S) with circular turret attached at NE corner (diam. c. 4m). Photo of c. 1907 (Fuller 1907, facing 2) shows tower standing to full height, of apparently 5 storeys, with gable atop W wall. Upper part now fallen so that walls stand to roughly 2nd floor level. Ground floor door near S end W wall; surround in two plain orders with pointed arch, yett hole through N jamb; lobby inside door now blocked by tip of fallen rubble. At ground level on E side two blocked opes, probably doors but surrounds gone. Roughly at centre of N and S walls, at 1st floor level, single window lights with ogee heads. At same level on W wall broken ope, probably remains of 'handsome bay window' mentioned by Bennett (1869, 210); only N side of similar window ope survives directly above at 2nd floor level. Directly above door in W wall, at 1st floor level, single tapering corbel; all that now remains of bartizan at SW corner (see photo O'Neil 1940, facing 112). Opes at three levels on circular turret. Just above present ground level are three double-splayed lintelled opes (external opening: H c. 0.65m; Wth c. 0.9m; at narrowest point H c. 0.15m; Wth 0.15m; depth of splay externally c. 0.7m); gun ports for cannon of mid-16th century type, showing more Scottish than English influence (O'Neil ibid., 113). Blocked ope on N side of door in W wall apparently similar gun port (ibid.). Directly above gun ports on circular tower are seven rectangular loops (Wth 0.3m; H 0.9m), steeply angled downwards through wall thickness 'for the discharge of muskets etc. downwards against attackers' (ibid.). Above these are two slit windows. Interior apparently filled with rubble of collapsed vault; this presumably collapsed after tower abandoned in 1787 (Bennett ibid.), when fireplace and 'cut limestone arches of bay windows' were stolen (ibid.). This fireplace survives intact, to some extent, at first floor level on N wall, 'with the crest and family arms of the Roches' on one of its jambs (ITA Survey: Inishannon). Built under Royal licence by Philip Roche in 1540s (Bennett ibid., 209;Hamilton 1860, 68 & 70); 1543 report states that 'building goeth well forward' (State Papers: King Henry the Eight: Part 3, 1538-1546). In 1642 taken by garrison of Bandon who 'killed 100 rebels at the castle of Poulnalong' (Smith 1750, vol. 2, 133). Thereafter residence of Herrick family; Smith (1750, vol. 1, 214) describes it as 'now a pleasant seat with good gardens and other improvements'. Abandoned by Herricks in 1787 (Bennett ibid.) for new residence; in ruins since then. Also known as Shippool Castle. 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