Kilcrea Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kilcrea Castle |
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| Native name Irish: Caisleán Chill Chré |
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| Area | County Cork, Ireland |
| Built | Mid-15th century |
| Built for | MacCarthys of Muskerry |
| Architectural style(s) | Fortified tower house and bawn |
| Governing body | On private land |
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Kilcrea Castle is an old, ruined castle from the 1400s. It's located in County Cork, Ireland, not far from a place called Ovens. This castle is a type of building called a tower house, which was a strong home, and it also has a walled yard called a bawn.
You might find it a bit hidden, as it's mostly covered by a thick group of trees. While the nearby Kilcrea Friary is looked after by the Irish government, Kilcrea Castle is on private land. This land is currently used as a cattle farm. Even though it's on private land, the castle is recognized as a "Protected Structure" by the local government, Cork County Council.
Contents
History of Kilcrea Castle
Who Built Kilcrea Castle?
Kilcrea Castle was finished around the year 1465. It was built by a powerful leader named Cormac Láidir Mór. He was the chief of the MacCarthy clan. Cormac Láidir Mór was also responsible for building other famous castles in Ireland, like Blarney Castle. He chose to build Kilcrea Castle in a marshy area that might have been the site of an even older fort from the Bronze Age.
What Does Kilcrea Castle Look Like?
The castle was designed to face north, towards the River Bride. The main part of the castle was a five-story tower house, which was on the western side. On the eastern side, closer to the friary, was the bawn, which is a defensive wall or courtyard.
Today, you can still see the remains of a three-story tower in the southeast corner of the bawn. Some old writings from the 1840s mention that the bawn used to have two square towers. However, any signs of a second tower are now hidden by all the plants and trees growing around the ruins.
How Did the Railway Affect the Castle?
In the middle of the 1800s, a railway line was built near the castle. This was the Cork and Macroom Railway line, which is no longer used today. The railway cutting, which is a path dug through the land, was built right through the castle's moat on its northern side.
Gallery
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A look inside the castle courtyard
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The tower on the southeast side of the castle
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A view of the castle's battlements (the top of the walls)
