Belvelly Castle facts for kids
Belvelly Castle is an old castle, built around the 1300s or 1400s. It's a type of castle called a tower house, found in County Cork, Ireland. The castle sits right next to the small village of Belvelly. It looks out over the only bridge that connects Fota Island to Great Island, where the town of Cobh is located.
A Look Back in Time
Belvelly Castle was first built by the Hodnett family. They were an Anglo-Norman family. But in the 1300s, other powerful families took control. These included the De la Roch (Roche) and De Barra (Barry) families. Later, the Hodnetts were able to rent their lands back.
Some stories say that Walter Raleigh might have lived in the castle in the 1500s. After that, the De Barra family took it over again. In the mid-1600s, during a time of wars in Ireland, Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery used the castle. He kept soldiers there to help him fight.
From Ruin to Restoration
By the 1800s, the castle was mostly a ruin. It was falling apart. During World War I, many sailors visited the area. Local drivers would take them to Belvelly Castle. The sailors often thought they were going to Blarney Castle to kiss the famous Blarney Stone!
Later, during World War II (1939-1945), the Irish Army used the castle. They made some changes to it during that time.
In the early 2000s, the castle was sold. In 2016, permission was given to fix it up. The plan was to turn it into a private home. This work was finished in late 2018. Now, the castle looks much better. There are even some cool artworks on its roof. The people who own the castle today also help support the local football team, Cobh Ramblers FC.
Images for kids
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Belvelly Castle in 2021
