Clan Rising
Carrigaphooca Castle today

Ireland · Ruin

Carrigaphooca Castle

Caisleán Carraig a' Phúca

Carrigaphooca Castle is a five-storey rectangular medieval tower house standing on a steep roche moutonnée above the River Sullane in County Cork, Ireland. Built of sandstone and limestone in the early 15th century by the MacCarthys of Muskerry, it survives as a ruined defensive tower with narrow slit windows, a north-face entrance and surviving corner bartizans.

Recreate this castle →Defend this castle →

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1430

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1430

What Carrigaphooca Castle looked like in its prime.

A tall, five-storey rectangular tower of mixed sandstone and limestone sits perched atop a steep, jagged roche moutonnée overlooking a river valley. Thick masonry walls are pierced by narrow vertically oriented slit windows with one larger east-facing window, and a simple lintelled entrance on the north face. The roofline is finished with two projecting corner bartizans and a plain parapet; internal access is by a straight mural stair to the first floor and a spiral stair continuing upwards.

Its story

The story of Carrigaphooca Castle.

Carrigaphooca, Caisleán Charraig a' Phúca, 'castle on the rock of the fairy', is a five-storey tower house on a steep-sided rock above the River Sullane, six kilometres west of Macroom in County Cork. It was built by the MacCarthys of Muskerry in the early 15th century; some sources credit Dermot Mór MacCarthy of Drishane Castle, building around the same time his brother Cormac Láidir was rebuilding Blarney.

The tower was built with protection rather than comfort in mind, it contains no fireplace at all, and its position on a high, jagged roche moutonnée made approach difficult for attackers. Cormac Teige McCarthy, Lord of Blarney, took refuge here after siding with the Irish during the Siege of Kinsale in 1601; in 1602 the castle was attacked and taken by Donal Cam O'Sullivan Beare and a member of the extended McCarthy family.

The ruin stands in a landscape rich with Neolithic monuments, Carrigaphooca Stone Circle lies two fields to the east, with a large standing stone to the west. The tower is owned by the state and maintained by the Office of Public Works, but sits on private property and is no longer accessible to the public.

Step inside

9 places to explore in 1430.

The record describes 9 distinct spots at Carrigaphooca Castle, including 5 interiors: ground-floor chamber, first-floor single room (guard quarters), spiral stairwell (2nd to 4th floors) 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.

Exterior approach and rock baseNorth-face entrance and doorwayGround-floor chamberFirst-floor single room (guard quarters)Spiral stairwell (2nd to 4th floors)Top floor living quartersRoof parapet and corner bartizansNorthern window panoramic viewSurrounding River Sullane valley

Build Your Own Castle

Recreate Carrigaphooca Castle with AI to explore it.

The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1430, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

Recreate this castle →Defend this castle →

Whose castle

Clans who held Carrigaphooca Castle.

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

  • MacCarthy

    Built by the MacCarthys of Muskerry in the early 15th century; a refuge for Cormac Teige McCarthy of Blarney after the Siege of Kinsale in 1601.

Questions about Carrigaphooca Castle

What is the history of Carrigaphooca Castle?

Carrigaphooca Castle was built as a defensive tower in the early 15th century. The MacCarthys of Muskerry constructed it on a steep rock overlooking the River Sullane. Cormac Teige McCarthy took refuge there after the Siege of Kinsale in 1601, but the castle was attacked and taken in 1602.

What is inside Carrigaphooca Castle?

Inside Carrigaphooca Castle are a ground-floor chamber, a first-floor room probably used as guard quarters, and a stairwell rising through the tower. A straight mural stair leads to the first floor, while the stair becomes spiral from the second to the fourth floor. The top floor may have contained living quarters, and there is no fireplace in the tower.

Why was Carrigaphooca Castle built?

Carrigaphooca Castle was built for protection rather than comfort. Its defensive purpose was strengthened by its position on a high, jagged roche moutonnée, which made approach difficult for attackers. The tower has narrow windows, thick walls and defensive corner bartizans, and it contains no fireplace.

Who owns Carrigaphooca Castle now?

Carrigaphooca Castle is owned by the state and maintained by the Office of Public Works. It stands on private property, although the tower itself is state-owned. The Office of Public Works undertook restoration work at the site during the 1970s.

Where is Carrigaphooca Castle?

Carrigaphooca Castle is six kilometres west of Macroom in County Cork. It stands above the River Sullane, on a steep-sided rock in the area of Clondrohid and Kilnamartyra. Carrigaphooca Stone Circle lies two fields to the east, and a large standing stone is to the west.

When was Carrigaphooca Castle built?

Carrigaphooca Castle was built in the early 15th century. The site's recorded prime year is 1430, while its first-raised year is not recorded. It is a five-storey medieval tower house built by the MacCarthys of Muskerry.

Was Carrigaphooca Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Carrigaphooca Castle was attacked and taken in 1602 by Donal Cam O'Sullivan Beare and another member of the extended McCarthy family. The attackers broke through the outer wall and burned the timber door at the north-face entrance. The defenders surrendered and were allowed to go free.

Which family or clan held Carrigaphooca Castle?

Carrigaphooca Castle was held by the MacCarthys of Muskerry. It was built by that family in the early 15th century, and Cormac Teige McCarthy of Blarney later used it as a refuge after the Siege of Kinsale in 1601.

What did Carrigaphooca Castle look like in its prime?

Carrigaphooca Castle was a tall, five-storey rectangular tower of sandstone and limestone. It stood on a steep, jagged roche moutonnée above the River Sullane, with thick walls, narrow slit windows and a larger east-facing window. Two projecting corner bartizans and a plain parapet finished the roofline.

Is Carrigaphooca Castle still standing?

Carrigaphooca Castle still stands as a ruined defensive tower. Its five-storey rectangular structure, thick masonry walls, slit windows, north-face entrance and corner bartizans survive. Restoration work in the 1970s added steps over the rock base and a narrow stepped turret, later blocked by a gate in the mid 1980s.

Can you visit Carrigaphooca Castle?

Carrigaphooca Castle is no longer accessible to the public. It is located on private property, although it is owned by the state and maintained by the Office of Public Works. The tower remains a ruined five-storey structure rather than a public museum or occupied residence.

More castles of Ireland

Carrickmines Castle, IrelandCarrickmines CastleLough Cutra Castle, IrelandLough Cutra CastleDún Dealgan Motte, IrelandDún Dealgan Motte
All castles of Ireland · Castles of Europe · the best castles in Europe · explore the finished reconstructions.