Barryscourt Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barryscourt Castle |
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| Native name Irish: Caisleán Chúirt an Bharraigh |
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Barryscourt Castle Entrance
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| Location | Carrigtwohill, County Cork, Ireland |
| Built | 15th Century |
| Architectural style(s) | Gothic |
| Governing body | Office of Public Works |
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| Official name | Barryscourt Castle |
| Reference no. | 641 |
Barryscourt Castle is a historic stone castle in County Cork, Ireland. Its name in the Irish is Caisleán Chúirt an Bharraigh. The castle is located near the town of Carrigtwohill and is a popular place for visitors to explore. It stands as a great example of a special kind of Irish castle called a Tower house.
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History of Barryscourt Castle
The land where Barryscourt Castle stands has a very long history. Over 1,300 years ago, in the 7th century, a wooden watermill was built there. This was long before any castle existed on the site.
The de Barry Family Arrives
In the 12th century, an Anglo-Norman family called the de Barrys took control of the land. They were a powerful family who built many castles. The main branch of the family, known as the Barrymores (which means "Great Barry" in Irish), held onto Barryscourt.
The stone tower house you can see today was likely built in the 15th or 16th century. Around 1550 is a good guess based on its design. It became the main home for the powerful Barry family.
Rebellions and Repairs
The Barrys were involved in the Desmond Rebellions in 1569 and 1579. These were fights against English rule in Ireland. In 1581, to stop English soldiers from using their castles, the Barrys damaged them. This included Barryscourt, which was threatened by an army led by the famous explorer Sir Walter Raleigh.
After the rebellions ended, Queen Elizabeth I of England pardoned the Barry family. They were allowed to repair their castle. They added a strong outer wall, called a bawn, with three corner towers to make it safer.
Later Years and Restoration
In 1617, the Barry family moved to a different home, but the castle was still important. During a war in 1645, it was attacked with cannons. You can still see the marks from the cannonballs on the castle walls today.
Over time, the castle was abandoned and fell into ruin. In the 1980s, people realized how important the castle was. A group called the Barryscourt Trust was formed in 1987 to save it.
During the 1990s, the castle was carefully repaired. The roof was replaced, and the inside was decorated to look like it did in the 16th century. Today, it is run by the Office of Public Works and is a popular tourist site where you can take free guided tours.
The Castle's Design
Barryscourt Castle is a great example of a 16th-century Irish castle. It has a main tower house where the family lived. This tower is surrounded by a courtyard, which was protected by the strong outer wall called a bawn.
The main tower is in the southwest corner of the wall. The main gate into the courtyard is right next to it. Inside the courtyard, there was once a large dining hall, but only the ruins of it are left.
The main part of the tower has three floors. But it also has three smaller turrets, or small towers, that stick out from the corners. These turrets are taller, with five floors each. The castle also has a dungeon where prisoners were once kept.
See also
