Court (in Ruins) — Dunkerron

Dunkerron Castle / Dún Ciaráin: The tower house (KE092-026001-) served as the principal residence of the O'Sullivan Mores (Bulter 1925, 47). In 1580 Owen O'Sullivan was inaugurated as O'Sullivan More, and he and his second wife, Sily MacCarthy Riabhach, are reputed to have built the manor house (KE092-026001-) adjoining the castle (RIA MS 24 K 43). In 1588 he was described as 'lord of a great country, the Earl's [of Clancarr] seneschal and marshal' (Cal State Papers, 538). In 1632, during its occupancy by Donal O'Sullivan More, the castle was described as 'a strong and defensible building' (Windele 1858, 296-7). It remained O'Sullivan More property until 1656, when it was confiscated. It was then acquired by Sir William Petty, and subsequent attempts by O'Sullivan More to petition the return of his lands failed (Butler 1925, 43-4). The castle stands on a low rise of limestone outcrop on the grounds of Dunkerron House, c. 3km W of Kenmare. It overlooks Kenmare Bay to S and commands fine views of the Beara Peninsula beyond. A short distance to N is Dunkerron House and a number of modern buildings, while at E are the remains of Dunkerron Court (KE092-026001-). Close to the base of the castle at its N, E and S sides are the concrete remains of several stages of a crazy golf course. Dunkerron Court (KE092-026001-): Located 17m E of the tower house is the ivy-clad wall of a manor house reputedly build by Owen O'Sullivan More (OSM; RIA MS 24 K 43). The remains consist of a 13.5m long stretch of the SE wall which features a two-gabled frontage. Only the W gable stands to full height, and the surviving features on the internal wall-face indicate that the building was of three storeys, including the gabled attics. A short distance SE of the house is a well. The surviving wall of the manor house, 1.2m thick, is constructed of roughly coursed rubble laid in a heavy gravel mortar; a portion of its E end has recently fallen. The ground floor, on which a considerable depth of stone collapse has accumulated, was lit by a number of narrow opes in the S wall. Three of these survive and are set in lintelled embrasures with widely splayed ingoings; they lack their external fittings except for cut limestone sills. The first floor of the house was supported on punch-dressed corbels, of which four project from the surviving section of wall. A centrally placed, wide rectangular window, set in a lintelled embrasure, is preserved at this level; its external fittings are lacking with the exception of its chamfered limestone sill. To its W are the remains of a large, impressive fireplace of cut limestone, 2.4m in width. Only its chamfered E jamb survives and above this is preserved a chamfered corbel supporting the E section of a joggled mantel. The mantel shelf, somewhat damaged, features a hollow-chamfered edge. The second floor of the building was accommodated in the two gabled attics and was supported on finely cut corbels, of which three are preserved. The gable at E has largely fallen but its fellow stands to full height, and is topped with a well-preserved chimney of dressed stone. Steeply pitched, it features a rectangular window set in an embrasure. The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 1108. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 31 July 2013