Re: Re: Carrigaphooca Castle

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July 21, 2007 at 1:15 pm #789312
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Carrigaphooca Castle (Caisleán Carraig a’ Phúca in Irish, meaning Castle on the Rock of the Fairy ; the word Púca may mean a Ghost, Fairy, or some other type of Spirit) is a ruined five storey rectangular tower house, situated on a steep-sided rock, and located 6km west of Macroom, County Cork, Ireland. Carrigaphooca was built in 1436, reputedly by Donal McCarthy of Drishane.[1] In 1602, the castle was attacked and taken by O’Sullivan Beare.[2]
During the 1970s, the Office of Public Works undertook restoration of the site, and added a fight of steps leading over the rock base, joining with the main entrance.[3] The ground floor chamber is lit by small off-center windows, and is flanked by a straight mural stairs which rises as a spiral to the 4th floor level.
A stone circle lies two fields to the east of the castle.
Sources: Denis Power (1997). Archaeological inventory of County Cork, Volume 3: Mid Cork, 9467 ColorBooks. ISBN 0-7076-4933-1

Carrigaphooca Castle from http://www.irelandseye.com
Perched on a high rock overlooking the Sullane River this tall tower house commands truly panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Built by Dermot Mor MacCarthy sometime between 1436 and 1451, it is a very simple building with a single room on each of its five levels. The windows are very plain in form, small and narrow, and like other early tower houses, there are no fireplaces or chimneys.
The MacCarthys of Carrigaphooca were constantly engaged in internecine warfare. They sided with the Crown in 1602 and their stronghold was consequently attacked by Donal Cam O’Sullivan Beare. After a difficult siege the huge wooden door of the castle burned down. The garrison was set free and O’Sullivan Beare retrieved a chest of Spanish gold he had presented to the MacCarthys some months earlier in return for their support against the English. The castle was subsequently owned by the MacCarthys of Drishane until forfeited in 1690.
5km (3 miles) W of Macroom.

Photo posted by J. Smith on http://medievalist2.blogspot.com/2007/07/carrigaphooca-castle-county-cork.html