Location: 3 km (2 mi) West from Cahersiveen Map
Constructed: 16th century
Ballycarbery Castle is a medieval castle situated 3 km (2 mi) West
from Cahersiveen in a Kerry County in Ireland. Ballycarbery Castle
was constructed 16th century. Already in 1398 there was a kind of
residence here, but the ruins visible today date back to the 16th
century. Some sources at that time described the castle as belonging
to McCarthy Mors, but you do not know if it actually belonged to
this family or their guardians, the O'connells. After the death of
Donal McCarthy Mor, she fell to Sir Valentine Browne. In 1652, in
the wars of the Three Kingdoms, Ballycarbery Castle was fired by
parliamentary troops with cannons. In the 18th century, a house was
built on the wall of the barn in which the Lauder family lived. This
house was demolished at the beginning of the 20th century.
The castle was surrounded by a high wall, of which only less than
half is preserved. Along the foot of today's remains of the wall are
attached firearms. In a part of the wall there is a staircase, but
it is difficult to access.
The ground floor of the castle consisted of several rooms, but today
only one room with walls and roof is preserved. It is a large room
with a rather high roof; in a corner a staircase leads up. There are
two stairs leading to the first floor and a path up the back of the
castle, as the entire rear wall of the castle is missing. One of the
stairs is still preserved at the full height of the ground floor and
in excellent condition. To the other one comes from outside the
room, and this is easily damaged. The first floor is covered with
Grass and has some original Windows and some small rooms, but it is
mostly open. The first floor is the highest part of the castle
ruins, which can still be reached, since the steps to the second
floor must have been attached to the rear wall of the building,
which is now missing.
Until about 2017, you could walk around the castle grounds and climb
the ruins. But the castle ruins are located on private grounds and
the owner has recently blocked access to the castle. So today
visitors can only admire the building from a small parking lot about
200 meters in front of the castle.