Blackwater Castle facts for kids

Blackwater Castle, once known as Castle Widenham

The old Tower house at Castle Widenham

The castle driveway and its protective wall

Blackwater Castle, also known as Castle Widenham, is a very old castle in Castletownroche, a village in north County Cork, Ireland. It sits between the towns of Mallow and Fermoy. Since 2005, this private estate can be rented for special events. People use it for castle weddings, parties, or even family vacations.

A Castle Through Time

Blackwater Castle is one of the oldest castles in Ireland where people still live. Some parts of the castle where families reside date back to the early 1400s. The castle's main structure is even older, built around the 1100s. There's a round tower on the east side from the late 1100s that is still standing.

Ancient Roots

The castle was built on top of an even older fort called Dun Cruadha. This fort was a strong place on a hill, built during the late Bronze Age or early Iron Age. But the land itself was used by people much, much earlier. Evidence shows people lived here about 9,000 years ago, during the Mesolithic age. This was found by looking at flint tools and caves near the River Awbeg.

Who Owned the Castle?

The story of Blackwater Castle involves several important families.

The Roche Family

In the late 1100s, two grandsons of Maurice FitzGerald, Alexander and Raymond FitzHugh, built their fortress here. This was after the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland. When Alexander's daughter, Synolda, married David de la Roche, the area became known as Roche Country. The castle stayed with the powerful Roche family for almost 500 years.

The Widenham Family

In 1666, the castle passed to Colonel John Widenham. It then became known as Castle Widenham. The Widenham family owned it for another 300 years, until the 1960s. After that, a few different owners took care of the castle. They made many updates and even called it Blackwater Valley Castle for a while.

The Nordstrom Family

In 1991, the Nordstrom Family Trust bought the castle. This Trust works hard to protect the castle's history. They want the castle to be able to support itself. Today, the castle is known as Blackwater Castle again. It continues to host weddings, private events, and family get-togethers. The castle courtyard also has an adventure center called Blackwater Outdoor Activities.

A Place Full of History

Because the Roches and Widenhams owned the castle for so long, much of its history is still there. This makes Blackwater Castle a very important historical site. People visit it for history tours because it shows signs of life from many different times:

• Mesolithic Age: Evidence of the earliest people.
• Bronze/Iron Age: Remains of the old fort, Dun Cruadha.
• Medieval Times: Old defense walls, a 12th-century tower, and a 13th-century watch tower. There's also a 15th-century Norman Keep.
• Later Periods: A courtyard from the 1600s or 1700s with other buildings. There's also a fortified house from after the Cromwellian period.

The site also has a St. Patrick's Holy Well and a Sheela na Gig. A famous old book, The Book of Fermoy, was once kept here. It is now at the Royal Irish Academy.