Blackrock Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blackrock Castle |
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|---|---|
| Caisleán na Carraige Duibhe | |
| Cork, Ireland | |
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| Coordinates | 51°54′00″N 8°24′09″W / 51.9°N 8.4025°W |
| Type | Castellated fortification |
| Height | 5 stories, >100 feet (30 m) |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Cork City Council |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Site history | |
| Built |
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| In use | As visitor centre and observatory |
| Materials | Limestone, ashlar masonry |
Blackrock Castle is an old, strong castle found in Blackrock, near Cork city in Ireland. It sits right by the River Lee. This castle was first built in the 1500s to protect Cork's busy port from invaders and pirates. Today, it's a cool place with an observatory, a visitor center, and a restaurant.
Contents
Castle History
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In the late 1500s, the people of Cork asked Queen Elizabeth I to build a fort at Blackrock. They wanted protection from pirates and other attackers. So, in 1582, a fort was built. Around 1600, a round tower was added. This tower helped keep ships safe from pirates who might try to steal them from the harbor.
The oldest part of the castle still standing is a round tower by the water. It is about 10.5 meters wide. Its walls are very thick, about 2.2 meters!
Ownership and Early Events
Blackrock Castle became the property of the City of Cork in 1608. This happened after King James I gave a special document (a charter) to the city. Records from 1613 and 1614 also mention the castle.
In 1722, a fire destroyed the old four-story tower. The people of Cork quickly built a new one. It cost them about £296.
During these times, the Cork Corporation (the city's government) used the castle for parties and fun gatherings. One special tradition was called "throwing the dart." Every three years in August, the Mayor would throw a long arrow (about four feet) from a boat. This showed that the Corporation had power over the harbor.
Rebuilding After Fires
Sadly, the castle was destroyed by another fire in 1827, right after a big party. Rebuilding started in 1828, led by Mayor Thomas Dunscombe. It was finished in March 1829.
The architects, George Richard Pain and James Pain, added three more stories to the original tower. They also rebuilt the smaller buildings around it. This new building cost the City of Cork £1,000. These architects also designed other important buildings in Cork. The castle you see today, with its old-style buildings around a courtyard, is mostly what they built.
For a while in the 1900s, the castle was owned by private people. It was used as a home, offices, a rowing club, and even a restaurant. But in 2001, the Cork Corporation bought it back. They started to fix it up and turn it into an observatory and museum.
The Observatory at the Castle
In the early 2000s, Blackrock Castle got a big makeover. Cork City Council, Cork Institute of Technology, and a private helper worked together.
In 2007, the "Cosmos at the Castle" project opened. The goal was to create a place for science, learning, and talking about space. The castle's observatory now has an interactive astronomy center. It's open to everyone! You can take a "tour of the universe" and even see a radio telescope. This telescope sends messages, written by school groups, to stars far away.
The castle also has special labs. Here, scientists from Cork Institute of Technology study astronomy.
See also
- List of astronomical observatories
