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Barryscourt Castle today

Ireland · Restored

Barryscourt Castle

Caisleán Chúirt an Bharraigh

Barryscourt Castle is a 16th-century Irish tower house and enclosed bawn near Carrigtwohill in eastern County Cork, long associated with the de Barry family. The site comprises a rectangular curtain wall with three corner towers surrounding a courtyard and a principal multi-storey tower house at the south-west corner. The tower and interior have been conserved and are presented furnished to resemble their 16th-century condition.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1620

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1620

What Barryscourt Castle looked like in its prime.

A substantial rectangular tower house of grey rubble stone stands at the south-west corner of a roughly rectangular curtain wall (bawn). Three narrower projecting turrets rise higher than the main three-storey block, with narrow vertical slit windows and a crenellated roofline; the curtain wall is punctuated by three small corner towers and low stone parapets. The castle sits behind a walled courtyard with grassy foreground gardens and an attached two-storey stone service range with a slate roof.

Its story

The story of Barryscourt Castle.

Barryscourt fell into the hands of the Anglo-Norman de Barry family in the 12th century, and masonry from that period found at the site may be the remains of a watermill or an early fortification. While Barry lands across County Cork were divided among branches of the family, Barryscourt stayed with the most powerful, the Barrymores, the 'Great Barrys', and the present tower house, tentatively dated to about 1550, became the family seat.

The Barrys supported the Desmond Rebellions of 1569 and 1579, and in 1581 they destroyed or severely damaged their own castles, Barryscourt among them, then threatened by an army led by Sir Walter Raleigh, to keep them from capture by English forces. The castle ceased to be the family's main residence in 1617, but remained an important fortification: it was attacked and captured in 1645, during the Irish Confederate War.

Barryscourt eventually fell into disuse, and the Coppinger family, who took over the property from the Barrys, built a house beside it in the early 18th century, long since disappeared. The tower house, courtyard and bawn wall with its three corner towers have been conserved, the tower presented furnished to resemble its 16th-century condition.

Step inside

9 places to explore in 1620.

The record describes 9 distinct spots at Barryscourt Castle, including 2 interiors: furnished interior of the tower house, dungeon/drop-shaft inside the tower. 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 lawn and gardensSouth-west corner of the main towerCurtain wall (bawn) and corner towersMain entrance in the south curtain wallSmaller north gate in the curtain wallInner courtyard and ruined hall foundationsFurnished interior of the tower houseDungeon/drop-shaft inside the towerBattlements from a projecting turret

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Whose castle

Clans who held Barryscourt Castle.

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

  • Barry

    Held by the Anglo-Norman de Barrys from the 12th century; the Barrymore branch made the tower house their seat until 1617.

  • Coppinger

    The Coppingers took over the property from the Barrys and built a house beside the castle in the early 18th century.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Barryscourt Castle.

Spike Island, IrelandFortressSpike Island8 km away

Questions about Barryscourt Castle

What is the history of Barryscourt Castle?

Barryscourt Castle became the seat of the Barrymore branch of the de Barry family in the 16th century. The Barrys supported the Desmond Rebellions and damaged the castle in 1581 to prevent its capture by English forces. It was repaired, later ceased to be the family’s main residence in 1617, and was attacked and captured in 1645 during the Irish Confederate War.

What is inside Barryscourt Castle?

Barryscourt Castle contains a furnished tower-house interior, a courtyard and the remains of a large hall. The dungeon is a drop-prisoner-in-from-the-top type. The tower’s interior is furnished to resemble its 16th-century condition, while only the foundations of the former dining hall remain inside the bawn.

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

Barryscourt Castle was built as a family seat and an important fortification. Its main tower housed the Barry family, while the surrounding bawn and corner towers protected the courtyard. After it stopped being the family’s main residence in 1617, it remained a significant defensive stronghold and was attacked during the Irish Confederate War.

Where is Barryscourt Castle?

Barryscourt Castle is near Carrigtwohill in eastern County Cork. It stands close to the town of Carrigtwohill, in southern Ireland. Its setting includes a courtyard, gardens and the remains of the castle’s enclosing bawn.

When was Barryscourt Castle built?

Barryscourt Castle belongs to the 15th or 16th century, with a tentative date of about 1550 for the present tower house. The site itself has earlier evidence, including masonry from the 12th century and evidence of a wooden watermill from the 7th century. The first-raised year is not recorded.

Was Barryscourt Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Barryscourt Castle was attacked and captured in 1645 during the Irish Confederate War. It had also been threatened by an army led by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1581, when the Barrys destroyed or severely damaged their own castles to prevent English forces from capturing them. Cannonball impact marks from the 1645 attack remain visible on the walls.

Which family or clan held Barryscourt Castle?

Barryscourt Castle was held by the Anglo-Norman de Barry family from the 12th century. The Barrymore branch, known as the Great Barrys, made the tower house their seat and retained it until 1617. The Coppingers later took over the property and built a house beside the castle in the early 18th century.

What did Barryscourt Castle look like in its prime?

Barryscourt Castle is a substantial grey rubble-stone tower house set at the south-west corner of a roughly rectangular curtain wall. Three narrower turrets rise above the three-storey main block, with slit windows and crenellated rooflines. The bawn has three corner towers and low stone parapets, and an attached two-storey slate-roofed service range stands beside the courtyard.

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

Barryscourt Castle is still standing and has been restored rather than left as an unmanaged ruin. The relatively intact shell of the tower house was repaired and reroofed in the 1990s. The conserved remains include the tower house, courtyard, bawn wall and its three corner towers, while the former hall survives only as ruins.

Can you visit Barryscourt Castle?

Barryscourt Castle can be visited as a tourist heritage site. Its interior is furnished in a 16th-century style, and guided tours are available. The castle is run by the Office of Public Works and has national monument status in Ireland.

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