What is recorded here

Rossbrin Castle is a ruined tower house on the west side of Rossbrin Bay in County Cork, Ireland. The O'Mahony clan are said to have built it in 1310, though surviving walls date from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. English forces attacked and took it in 1562 and again in 1571. Collapses in 1905, 1963 and 1975 removed much of what remained, leaving only the northeast corner standing to four storeys.

Rectangular tower-house (10.9m E-W; 8.3m N-S) on rock outcrop in elevated position on W side Rossbrin Bay. Structure has suffered a number of collapses in modern times (1905, 1963 and 1975) (Anon. 1975, 10; Healy1988, 211). NE corner stand to four storeys. Ground floor doorway in E wall partially blocked by rubble; probable 1st floor door in this wall. Pointed vault (axis E-W) over 2nd floor (attic) missing SE quadrant; also damaged at junction with W wall. Mural stairs rise in E wall from N in going of 1st floor doorway to NE corner of 3rd floor. Only short returns adjoining E and N walls survive at 3rd and 4th floor levels. East wall recessed internally under wide segmental arched head (see CO140-032---). Section through broken face of E wall shows series of mural chambers at upper levels. Castle of the O'Mahony clan reputedly built in 1310 (O'Mahony 1909, 123); surviving remains of 15th/16th century date. Attacked and taken in 1562 and again in 1571 (Healy 1988, 211). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 1: West Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1992). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

Built by the Blake family in the 16th century, Rossbrin Castle is remembered as a historic seat of the influential Blake dynasty and for its strategic location overlooking Rossbrin Bay.

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