History
Neolithic Era
Carraignacurra Castle dominates the strategic crossroad of the River Lee and the ancient road from Macroom to Dunmanway. But before discussing the age of the current structure, we must first start at the beginning of the beginning, the Neolithic, “New Stone Age”. Surrounding Carraignacurra Castle are dozens and dozens of Neolithic sites. Standing stones, stone circles and tombs of different types. The Neolithic population in the area must have been enormous and long lived. The prominent bedrock rising at such an important position would have surely been used in some fashion since the beginning of Human settlement in the area.
Celtic Age
After the Neolithic era comes the Celtic age. The term Celtic refers to a culture, rather than a specific people. It began in what is today central Europe and spread throughout the continent into what is today Turkiye, across the top of Italy, and out west to the islands to include Ireland. The Roman Empire campaigned against the Celtic culture, after first adopting much of it themselves, pushing the Celts back to their last stand, Ireland and Scotland. And the property surrounding Carraignacurra reflects this. Numerous Celtic ring forts can be found in any direction
Norman Invasion
Then comes the Norman Invasion of Ireland in 1169. The Norse (Vikings) who established themselves in Normandy, eventually crossed the channel and took England. They paused for consolidation and then crossed over to Ireland. And while the early Irish did build with stone, usually circular towers, it was the Normans who brought stone vertical construction and what we recognize today as castle construction to Ireland, and quite possibly, to our site at Carraignacurra Castle. This is where the archaeological debate begins.
Henry II
When Henry II and Pope Adrian IV, the only English Pope, conspired to invade Ireland, Henry claimed the Norse settlement of Cork for himself, along with the surrounding ring of land. This was 1171. The following year he gave two Norman Lords, Milo de Cogan and Robert Fitzstephen, responsibility for defending Cork. He also gave them each the next ring of surrounding land, which would include our site. Specifically, de Cogan was given Muskerry. It is recorded that he built "protective strongpoints and castles", including the original castle in Macroom.
The castle you see today was clearly built in at least two phases. The bottom two thirds of the structure was built with finely worked corners, “quoin” stones, and the windows and interior doorways have finely shaped arches with mason marks. The upper one third is “rubble-built”, an entirely different method of building. A finely built flagstone floor in one passage has a rubble-built staircase built on top of it. There are two different types of floor structure. There are indications of crenellation and a cistern at the level of the style change. There are indications of several towers for a defensive wall. It was a typical Norman defensive strategy to establish small outposts to watch for approaching enemies. Carraignacurra lies exactly one day’s march from Cork on the pass between Cork and the Lee Valley at a strategic intersection. It would make sense that the original structure garrisoned one of these outposts. So, what was the original structure?
Clan O'Leary
If this early date is accurate, then the next phase of construction would involve Clan O’Leary. Clan O’Leary had always been a prominent clan raiding and trading out of their harbor at Rosscarbery. With the Norman Invasion, Clan O’Leary was forced out of Rosscarbery and moved up to the Lee Valley where they displaced a Norse settlement, possibly from Cork. It is possible that they rebuilt de Cogan's outpost into an Irish tower-house.
Of course, it is also possible that Clan O’Leary just built the whole thing in two phases themselves. And therein lies the archaeological debate.
Battle of Kinsale
During the time of the Battle of Kinsale, and the aftermath in the early 1600’s, the last chieftain, O’Sullivan Beare, was roaming the area fighting the English, and anyone who had surrendered. The O’Leary garrison had technically capitulated, based on the capture of their leadership, but they certainly were not happy with this. O’Sullivan Beare laid siege to Carraignacurra Castle with siege works. The siege lasted a short time, because the O’Leary garrison actually wanted to join The O’Sullivan. They did so after some negotiation and joined his “Long March” to Lietrim.
Oliver Cromwell
The next era involves Oliver Cromwell. With the English Civil War came the beheading of King Charles I. Cromwell then crossed to Ireland to put down the remaining loyal English, and then turned his forces on the Irish. When he returned to London, he left Roger Boyle, Earl of Orrery, in command at Blarney Castle with orders to “knock” all the Irish tower-houses in the area, rendering them unsuited to military use. Carraignacurra Castle was knocked on orders from Cromwell in the 1650’s with some of the upper portion being found on the ground during our initial archaeological work.
Castle Masters
After generations of revolts, revolutions and uprisings, much of Irish land was confiscated. This coincided with the Crown owing money to defense contractors. To pay for weapons used in the American Revolution, the Crown gave huge tracts of land to The Hollow Blade Sword Company, which included Carraignacurra Castle. The company then sold this confiscated land to English settlers to generate revenue. The land was sold to the Masters family, who built a house adjacent to the castle named, “Castle Masters”. Surrounding Carraignacurra Castle was a stage coach stop for changing horses on the Bantry-Queenstown (Cobh) route, and the original village of Inchigeelagh. Lord Masters closed the road from Macroom to Dunmanway, and forced the village, and the road, up stream to the next viable ford.
Modern Era
In the modern era, various owners have attempted restoration of Carraignacurra Castle. This was inspired by Jeremy Irons, who restored a tower-house near Skibbereen. This motivated a Russian oligarch named Max to buy the castle, knock out gun loops into full windows and modify the structure with stone from the coach house, which he demolished, all without planning permission. The County put a stop to it. Max then passed away. An English couple then did their best, but just the process of gaining planning permission, which takes years to obtain at great expense, eventually led them to sell the structure. An American couple began again. New planning permission, an archaeological dig, environmental and wildlife reports, scaffolding erected, mortar replaced and a lime render coating applied.
And so, the last battle of Carraignacurra Castle began.
Carrignacurra, Killeens, Co. Cork, Ireland