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Carrignacurra Castle today

Ireland · Restored

Carrignacurra Castle

Carrignacurra Castle is a four-storey Irish tower house in County Cork that served as the chief seat of the O'Leary family and guarded a nearby ford on the River Lee. The rectangular stone tower survives as a tall standalone tower house with distinctive defensive features including a triangular redan, a wall-mounted bartizan and a projecting machicolation. It is a protected historic monument and has been the subject of recent archaeological excavation and restoration.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1600

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1600

What Carrignacurra Castle looked like in its prime.

A tall, rectangular four-storey tower house of roughly 15 metres height built from grey-brown rubble stone, with the long side significantly longer than the short side. The southeast corner carries a pointed triangular redan projecting from ground level, and a small wall-mounted bartizan projects on the northwest face; an east-facing projecting machicolation with a vertical opening is visible above the entrance zone. Narrow vertical slit windows and gun-loops puncture the thick walls; the roofline is finished with a crenellated parapet and walk atop the tower. The building sits on a grassy rise beside the River Lee, surrounded by trees.

Its story

The story of Carrignacurra Castle.

Carrignacurra Castle was built as the chief seat of the O'Leary family, a four-storey tower house defending a ford across the River Lee east of Inchigeelagh on the historic route between Macroom and Dunmanway. Its name probably comes from Carraig na Choradh, Rock of the Weir. Of the three tower houses the O'Learys built around Inchigeelagh, Carrignacurra, Carrignaneela and Dromcarra, only this one still stands.

The tower carries unusual defences: a pointed triangular redan with three gun-loops at the south-east corner, one of only three castles in County Cork so built, with Castle Hyde and Mashanaglass, a bartizan on the north-western side, and a machicolation on the east wall through which stones and boiling liquids could be dropped on attackers. Captured by O'Sullivan Beare in 1602, it was forfeited in 1641 and restored to the MacCarthys, with the O'Learys installed as tenants.

When the forfeited Cork and Kerry estates of the Earl of Clancarty passed to the Hollow Sword Blade Company, Carrignacurra went with them; sources suggest the Masters family purchased the property in the 1720s, and it passed to the Pyne family when Mary Masters inherited it and married Arthur Pyne. Jasper Pyne, nephew of the Lord Chief Justice Sir Richard Pyne, was the recorded occupier at Griffith's Valuation in 1868, and the protected tower has since seen archaeological excavation and restoration.

Step inside

10 places to explore in 1600.

The record describes 10 distinct spots at Carrignacurra Castle, including 4 interiors: interior: ground floor chamber (store/entrance), spiral staircase within the north-eastern corner, second-floor great chamber with fireplace and vaulted ceiling 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 from the River Lee / western slopeSoutheast redan (triangular defensive projection) at ground levelNorthwest wall-mounted bartizan (turret)East projecting machicolation above the entrance approachInterior: ground floor chamber (store/entrance)Spiral staircase within the north-eastern cornerSecond-floor great chamber with fireplace and vaulted ceilingIntermural passage within the north wall leading to the bartizanBattlement walk and roof parapetExcavation trenches around the tower base

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Whose castle

Clans who held Carrignacurra Castle.

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

  • O'Leary

    Chief seat of the O'Learys, who built three tower houses around Inchigeelagh.

  • MacCarthy

    Restored to the MacCarthys after the 1641 forfeiture, with the O'Learys as tenants.

  • Masters

    Sources suggest the family purchased the estate from the Hollow Sword Blade Company in the 1720s.

  • Pyne

    Passed to the Pynes by Mary Masters's marriage to Arthur Pyne; Jasper Pyne recorded occupier, 1868.

Questions about Carrignacurra Castle

What is the history of Carrignacurra Castle?

Carrignacurra Castle was built as the chief seat of the O'Leary family, probably in the 15th or 16th century. It defended a ford across the River Lee on the route between Macroom and Dunmanway. O'Sullivan Beare captured it in 1602; after forfeiture in 1641, it was restored to the MacCarthys, with the O'Learys installed as tenants.

What is inside Carrignacurra Castle?

Carrignacurra Castle contains a ground-floor chamber used as a store and entrance, plus a spiral staircase within the north-eastern corner. The second-floor great chamber has a fireplace and vaulted ceiling. An intermural passage in the north wall leads to the bartizan, while the staircase continues to the upper floors and battlement access.

Why was Carrignacurra Castle built?

Carrignacurra Castle was built to defend a ford across the River Lee. Its position also protected a historic route between Macroom and Dunmanway, while its thick walls, gun-loops, redan, bartizan and machicolation provided defensive features against attackers. It served as the O'Leary family's chief seat rather than only as a military outpost.

Where is Carrignacurra Castle?

Carrignacurra Castle is in County Cork, about 1.5 kilometres east of Inchigeelagh village. It stands beside the River Lee on a grassy rise surrounded by trees, on the historic route between Macroom and Dunmanway.

When was Carrignacurra Castle built?

Carrignacurra Castle was built in the 15th or 16th century, but its exact construction date has not been established. Carbon dating was underway to determine the date more precisely.

Was Carrignacurra Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Carrignacurra Castle was captured by O'Sullivan Beare in 1602, so it did not hold during that assault. The available account does not describe a formal siege, but records the castle's capture and its later forfeiture in 1641.

Which family or clan held Carrignacurra Castle?

Carrignacurra Castle was the chief seat of the O'Learys, who built three tower houses around Inchigeelagh. It was restored to the MacCarthys after the 1641 forfeiture, with the O'Learys remaining as tenants. The estate later passed through the Masters and Pyne families.

What did Carrignacurra Castle look like in its prime?

Carrignacurra Castle is a tall, rectangular, four-storey tower house about 15 metres high, built from grey-brown rubble stone. Its defences include a pointed triangular redan at the south-east corner, a wall-mounted bartizan on the north-west face and a projecting machicolation above the entrance. Narrow slit windows and gun-loops puncture the thick walls, which are topped by a crenellated parapet and walk.

Is Carrignacurra Castle still standing?

Carrignacurra Castle is still standing as a tall, standalone tower house and is described as restored. Restoration has repaired stonework around the gun-loops, windows and door surrounds, reinstated timber floors and added a new slated roof. Archaeological excavation has also taken place around the tower base.

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