Clan Rising
Ballincollig Castle today

Ireland · Partial ruin

Ballincollig Castle

Caisleán Baile an Chollaigh

Ballincollig Castle is a Norman tower house and walled bawn on a limestone summit south of Ballincollig, County Cork. In its prime it was the Barrett family stronghold; today it survives largely as a ruin with the main keep, much of the curtain wall and two defensive towers still standing. The site also preserves a natural cavern below and the remains of a surrounding moat.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1468

Today

Partial ruin

As it stood in 1468

What Ballincollig Castle looked like in its prime.

An irregular rectangular bawn of grey limestone blocks sits on a limestone summit, enclosed by curtain walls roughly 1.5 m thick and about 5 m high with a parapet-walk and flighted steps. A 13th-century keep (about 14–15 m high) rises from one side with narrow slit loopholes and stone-arched floors. Two projecting defensive towers occupy the south and south‑east stretches of the curtain. A hall alignment is indicated by an outer fireplace/chimney and a two‑light window; a cavern mouth and traces of a moat lie below.

Its story

The story of Ballincollig Castle.

The Barretts, members of a family who had travelled from Normandy with William the Conqueror, purchased Coll's estate lands at Ballincollig by 1468 and improved and extended the castle on its limestone summit south of the town. The purchase from Robert Coll, a knight, in the eighth year of Edward IV is recorded in the Carew Calendar of 1611; the family held as tenants of the Earls of Desmond, to whom they paid 12 marks yearly.

Ballincollig became the principal Barrett stronghold until the early 17th century, when the Castlemore Barretts controlled Mourne Abbey and Garrycloyne together with Castleinch, Ballincollig and Cloghan McUllick. Having borrowed to pay court fines and dowries, the family mortgaged the castle and lands in 1618 to the Coppingers of Cork, William Barrett granting "all that and those the castles, bawnes, towns, villages, hamlets, lands, tenements and hereditaments of and in Ballincolly" to Edmond Coppinger for £240.

After standing disused and ruined for several centuries, the keep was repaired by the Wyse family in 1857. The original keep still stands, together with most of the curtain wall and two towers, above a natural cavern and with the remains of a surrounding moat.

Step inside

10 places to explore in 1468.

The record describes 10 distinct spots at Ballincollig Castle, including 4 interiors: vaulted ground floor of the keep (interior), first-floor room on arches (interior), upper chief chamber of the keep (interior) and more. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach across the bawn (exterior)Parapet walk on the curtain wall (exterior)South-east tower (exterior)South tower (exterior)Main keep (exterior)Vaulted ground floor of the keep (interior)First-floor room on arches (interior)Upper chief chamber of the keep (interior)Possible hall area with fireplace and two-light window (interior/exterior)Cavern mouth and moat traces below the bawn (exterior)

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Whose castle

Clans who held Ballincollig Castle.

The families that held Ballincollig Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Barrett

    Purchased from Robert Coll in 1468; the principal Barrett stronghold until the early 17th century.

  • Coll

    Robert Coll, a knight, held the estate lands at Ballincollig until their sale to the Barretts in 1468.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Ballincollig Castle.

Spike Island, IrelandFortressSpike Island22 km away

Questions about Ballincollig Castle

What is the history of Ballincollig Castle?

Ballincollig Castle developed from a 13th-century keep and was improved and extended by the Barretts after they purchased the estate lands in 1468. It became the Barrett family’s principal stronghold until the early 17th century, when it was mortgaged to the Coppingers. After falling into disuse, the keep was repaired by the Wyse family in 1857.

What is inside Ballincollig Castle?

Inside Ballincollig Castle, the keep contains a vaulted ground floor, a first-floor room reached by a path carried on arches, and an upper chief chamber. Narrow stairs lead between the stories, which have stone floors on solid arches. The site also has evidence of a possible hall, including a fireplace, chimney and two-light window.

Why was Ballincollig Castle built, and what was it used for?

Ballincollig Castle was built as a fortified stronghold and residence for control of the surrounding area. Its bawn, curtain walls, defensive towers and keep provided protection, while the Barrett family used it as their principal stronghold. The site later lost this role, falling into disuse and disrepair after 1690.

Where is Ballincollig Castle?

Ballincollig Castle is south of the town of Ballincollig in County Cork. It stands on a limestone summit overlooking the low land of the Maglin Valley. The castle is in County Cork, Ireland.

When was Ballincollig Castle built?

Ballincollig Castle was built in phases, beginning with a 13th-century keep and continuing with later additions. The Barretts improved and extended the castle after purchasing the estate lands in 1468, and the bawn, outer towers and hall are described as 15th-century work. The first raising date is not recorded.

Was Ballincollig Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Ballincollig Castle was attacked in 1591, when Andrew Barrett and sixty others assaulted it and dispossessed Edmund Barrett. It was taken by Oliver Cromwell’s forces in 1644, and around 1689 it was garrisoned for James II. The 1591 assault involved swords, guns, hammers, stones and staves.

Which family or clan held Ballincollig Castle?

The Barrett family held Ballincollig Castle from their purchase of the estate lands in 1468 until the early 17th century. Robert Coll, a knight, held the estate lands before selling them to the Barretts. The Barretts made Ballincollig their principal stronghold.

What did Ballincollig Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Ballincollig Castle was an irregular rectangular limestone bawn enclosed by curtain walls about 1.5 metres thick and 5 metres high. A 13th-century keep rose to about 14–15 metres, with narrow slit loopholes and stone-arched floors. Two defensive towers projected from the curtain wall, while a parapet walk and flighted steps ran along the enclosure.

Is Ballincollig Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Ballincollig Castle is still standing, but it is largely a ruin. The main keep, most of the curtain wall and two defensive towers survive, together with a natural cavern below and traces of a surrounding moat. The keep was repaired by the Wyse family in 1857 after several centuries of disuse and ruin.

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