Architectural feature in Dunkerron

Dunkerron Castle / Dún Ciaráin: This tower house 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 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. 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. Four carved stones were formerly located at Dunkerron and probably derived from the tower house. They were recorded lying between the castle and manor house in 1841 (OSL), but were later removed to a boat-house near Kenmare. By the mid-1850s they had been returned to Dunkerron and mounted on the surviving wall of the manor house (Windele 1885, 297). All four stones were removed from Dunkerron in recent years and their present whereabouts is unknown. Three appear to derive from a joggled mantelpiece, while the fourth has a commemorative inscription. The following descriptions are largely based on those of Du Noyer (1858, 290-2). (1) According to Du Noyer this stone did not form part of the mantelpiece and may have originally been 'placed on the wall over the principal entrance to the castle' (1858,392). Hitchcock recorded its inscription as (1852, 128): IHS: MARIA DEO: GRACIAS. THIS WORK WAS MADE THE XX OF APRIEL 1596: BY OWEN O SVLIVAN MORE & SILY NY DONOGH MACCARTY RIEOGH The individuals referred to are Owen, the O'Sullivan More from 1580 to 1623, and his second wife, Sily MacCarthy, who were married sometime between 1593 and the date of the inscription. (2) This armorial stone probably formed the centre piece of the mantel. The shield features motifs described as 'star-fish' by Du Noyer in each canton and a haloed cherub in chief point. The latter was suggested by Windele to be a mermaid (1858, 298). In honour point is a gauntlet or arm coupe, and in fess and nombril point respectively is a boar and a newt-like creature. In base point is a galley with a human figure on board. A horned griffin grasps the dexter margin of the shield, while the opposite supporter is a stylised lion. A fleur-de-lis occurs below each animal, and a spray of shamrock is disposed beneath the dexter lower margin of the shield. Above its upper margin is the contracted inscription: OSM. S Du Noyer interpreted this as the initials of O'Sullivan More followed by the first initial of Owen O'Sullivan's wife, Sily (MacCarthy). (3) This stone, which formed the left side of the mantel, features a male figure at its outer end. Dressed in a cap and belted tunic which reaches to just above the knee, he holds a hunting-horn to his lips with his right hand. From his left hand extends a horizontally disposed interlaced band which divides the remainder of the carved surface into two fields. In the uppermost of these are two rosettes, a dog or boar and a pair of newt- or lizard-like creatures with intertwined tails. A symmetrical arrangement of stylised fronds and a small rosette occupy the lower field. The stone appears to have had a plain raised band around its edges. (4) Forming the right side of the mantel, this stone features a female figure at its outer end. She wears an ornate head-dress and a full-length waisted gown. Her right hand grasps a vertical frame from which two horizontal interlaced bands extend, dividing the remainder of the surface of the stone into two fields. The uppermost of these features a large rosette and two trefoils, while an arrangement of stylised fronds occur in the lower. 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