Location: Cork-Youghal Road (N25), Carrigtwohill Map
Constructed: 16th century
Official site
Tel. +353 21 488 2218
Open: 26th May - 28th September: Daily 10am - 6pm
Last admission 45 min before closing
Admission Fee: Free
The site on which Barryscourt Castle now stands has been inhabited
for the last 1000+ years; evidence has been found of the existence of a
wooden watermill built near a watercourse on the site sometime in the
7th century, long before any type of fort existed there. Barryscourt
fell into the hands of the Anglo-Norman De Barry family in the 12th
century; Remains of stonework found on the site may be the remains of
another watermill or that of an early fort built by the De Barrys.
Whilst the De Barry lands in various parts of County Cork were
divided between branches of the family, Barryscourt remained in the
hands of the most powerful branch, the Barrymores (Barra mór means
'great Barrys' in English). The Barrymore line later died out and it
fell to Barryscourt in 1556 to a distant cousin, James FitzRichard of
the Barryroes (Barra Rúa, dt: "Red Barrys"). The current Tower House at
Barryscourt was probably built in the late Barrymore period, either in
the late 15th or early 16th century. According to the architectural
style, it can be dated to around 1550; it became the family home of the
Barrys.
The Barrys took part in the Desmond Rebellions of 1569
and 1579, and in 1581 they destroyed or seriously damaged the family
castles to prevent English troops from conquering them. This was also
the case at Barryscourt Castle, which was threatened by an army led by
Sir Walter Raleigh. After the second rebellion was put down, the Barrys
were pardoned by Queen Elizabeth I of England and Barryscourt Castle was
repaired. At that time, the second ring of walls or enclosure was added,
enclosing the courtyard and having three corner towers.
Barryscourt was no longer the Barry family headquarters from 1617 but
apparently was still an important stronghold for many years afterwards,
having been attacked and taken in 1645, in the Wars of the Irish
Confederacy. The traces of the impact of the cannonballs fired during
this attack on the castle can still be seen on the castle walls.
Later Barryscourt Castle fell into disuse and the Coppinger family (who
had taken over the estate from the Barrys) had a house built near the
castle in the early 18th century. However, this house has long since
disappeared. In 1987 the Barryscourt Trust was formed to preserve the
castle and develop it as a monument. During the 1990s the relatively
undamaged outer walls of Dúchas Tower House were repaired and the
building given a new roof and today Barryscourt Castle is a popular
monument managed by the Office of Public Works. The interior is
furnished as it probably was in the 16th century. There are daily free
guided tours of the castle.
Barryscourt Castle was built in a style very typical of 16th Century Ireland. It consisted of a central tower house with smaller annexes arranged around the main building in the courtyard. The whole was protected by an outer enclosure or curtain wall with three smaller towers. A large building once stood next to Tower House, believed to be a Great Hall, but only ruins remain. The Tower House occupies the south-west corner of the nearly rectangular courtyard, the entrance of which is found in the south curtain wall nearby. There is a smaller gate in the northern curtain wall. The dungeon is designed in such a way that prisoners could fall in from above. Three smaller turrets rise at the north-east, south-east and south-west corners of the main tower. These three turrets are five stories tall, while the main block of the tower is only three stories tall.