Michael O Herlihy

1-Michael O Herlihy-CO070-034Carrigaphooca Castle – Tower House: SMR CO070-034: Built c1436AD. Exterior view of East wall taken from flat pasture facing West. Sitting, without foundation, on a steep sided outcrop of purple tinged sandstone. River Sullane lies c 100m to South in the region of ridge and furrow valley landscape. Landscape also of wet farmed pastures and smaller sparse purple tinged rock outcrops on all sides. Five-storey rectangular Tower. Multiple non descript windows, largest at Level 5. Diagonal pattern of windows from Level 1 NE corner to Level 3 SE corner provide lighting for straight stone staircase. Spiral stairs from Level 4 to Level 5. Extra protection from rock as thinner stairwell walls make them most vulnerable at this side. Quoin split stone visible and ornamental to corners and structural integrity. Bartesian Machicolation clearly visible on top NE corner above entrance door on N wall. No chimneys visible. Photo by: Michael O Herlihy, 02 March 2024.

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Carrigaphooca Castle -Tower house: SMR CO070-034: Built c1436AD. Interior view taken from the mural stairwell entrance door to Level 2 Chamber in middle of East wall facing West. Ground Floor entrance on North wall with short lobby of segmented fabric square reconstruction, incorporating doorway immediate East leading to mural straight stairwell. Multiple windows on all Levels and walls, mostly off centre. Most of the inner part embrasure square set segmental vaults covered by lintels. Some splayed. Mural chamber on N side of embrasure of E Level 3 window. nib holes still visible over windows on Ground Level, where timber beams and wicker sat during construction. Corbelling visible and holes on opposite walls where right angled floor board technology employed. No fireplaces. Blunt Pointed Ceiling intact on Level 4 serving two purposes, structural integrity of weight distribution and to act as a firebreak. Photo by: Michael O’ Herlihy, 02 March 2024.

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Gort an Imill – Stone Circle: SMR CO069-013: Dates to c1200BC. Multiple Stone Circle taken from elevated mound SW of stone circle facing NE. Located South side of Douglas Rivervalley in shallow depression in bog land. Uneven number of stones, feature of multiple stone circles. Mountain road running E-W N of circle. Nine stones in total. Two Portal/Entrance Stones at NE of circle with Axial Stone opposite at SW position. Stones decrease in height from Portals to Axial Stone. Quartz/Sunstone sits off centre slightly E in ground in the middle of circle. Photo by: Michael O Herlihy, 02 March 2024.

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Gort an Acra/Rahoonagh West – Clapper Bridge: SMR: CO069-017: Taken from the North side of bridge looking South. The bridge is crossing Douglas River at angle SE-NW. Recently restored to its original setting of eleven slabs supported by eight rough masonry piers. Dates to 13/14th Century Anglo-Norman period. Can be represented on maps as ‘Stepping Stones’ or ‘Ford’ as bridging point or shallow crossing point. Located off narrow mountain road on N side of bridge onto wet pasture and farmed pastures to S side of bridge. Photo by: Michael O Herlihy, 02 March 2024.

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Glebe/Ballyvourney -St. Gobnait’s – Church: SMR: CO058-034007: Taken from within church Nave facing East. Ruins of Ballyvourney parish church said by tradition to be located on site of St Gobnait’s convent. Gobnait is said to have been born late 6th or early 7th century. Patron saint of beekeepers. New Chancel Arch in picture with added Chancel further East. Original East gable wall has fallen or demolished to create the new Chancel. a possible indication that the church required extension due to increase of church goers at the time. The fabric of the chancel extension is not in keeping with the original building. The apex of the original church roof is not in line and slightly off centre with the apex of the bluntly pointed Chancel Arch. On West face of East gable of Nave is a weather-worn carved stone human head projecting from above the Chancel Arch. This is possibly once a voussoir in 12th Century Romanesque arch of an earlier church. Head is known locally as the ‘Black Thief’ who is said to have tried to steal a horse belonging to Gobnait. Photo by: Michael O Herlihy, 02 March 2024.

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Gunna Christensen

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Carrigaphooca Castle (SMR: CO070-034), Co. Cork, viewed from west facing east. Mid-15th century castle of the Mac Carthys of Drishane. The castle has five floors and is entered on the north side. Note the remains of a bartizans on the southwest and northeast corners, indicating the defensive nature of the tower. Photo taken 2nd March 2024.

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Carrigaphooca Castle (SMR: CO070-034), Co. Cork, viewed from northwest facing southeast. The castle was built c. 100m north of river Sullane upon a steep sided rock outcrop, likely both to prevent flooding and for defensive purposes. Note again the remains of bartizans and the modern steps to the entrance of the castle (left foreground). Photo taken 2nd March 2024.

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Gort an Imill multiple stone circle (SMR: CO069-013), Co. Cork, viewed from south facing north. The stone circle lies in a shallow depression in boggy mountain land. According to the ‘Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork’ the circle consists of nine stones, however, it appears there are eleven. Note the entrance stones (centre/centre right). A quartz stone sits at the centre of the circle. Photo taken 2nd March 2024.

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Clapper bridge (SMR: CO069-017), Rahoonagh West, Co. Cork crossing the Douglas River, viewed from north facing south. The bridge is 19m in length and is formed by eleven slabs sitting on eight masonry piers. Some slabs at the southeast end have fallen into the water and the bridge has recently been excavated and reconstructed. Photo taken 2nd March 2024.

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Holy Well (SMR: CO058-034009) located south of Ballyvourney graveyard, Glebe, Co. Cork, viewed from south facing north. The well marks the final station in St Gobnait’s pilgrimage which also includes St Gobnait’s house, church and the graveyard. It is built into a slope and is surrounded by dry stone walling and roofed by a lintel. A rag tree is associated with the well, where there is a tradition to leave votive offerings. Photo taken 2nd March 2024.

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Ann Stratmann

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This image shows the outside view of the “Carrigaphooca Castle” located in Carrigaphooca Co. Cork (51,908558 , -9,028478) that is visible while approaching over the fields from the eastern side of the tower house. Its location on a natural rock outcrop and architectural features like the windows and defensive structures are apparent. One can tell that the building originally held 5 floors and even guess the stair placement by the diagonal alignment of the windows. The surrounding nature shows the exquisite location of the structure including the defensive position. (Photo taken on the 02.03.2024)

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SMR number CO070-034, located in Carrigaphooca Co. Cork (51,908558 , -9,028478),(Inside view western wall). This Image shows the inside from the original ground floor up to what once was the roof of the third floor (above ground level). The main wall shown is the western wall adorned with some windows, doorways and the entrance to another chamber build inside the wall. Some of the smaller holes show the placement of the original wood floors. (Photo taken on the 02.03.2024)

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This Image shows a stone circle. SMR number CO069-013. The circle consists of 9 stones. Decreasing in height form the portal stones to the axial stone. This image was taken from a southern direction. The main alignment of the circle is on a NNE-SSW axis. The circle itself is situated on the southern side of the Douglas river valley on a flatter part of the hillside. Many stones have been damaged and an extra stone might have been added to the pair seen on the far side of the circle. Another notable feature is the secluded location of the circle overlooking the Douglas valley. (Photo taken on the 02.03.2024)

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This monument is a small clapper bridge that spans the river, Douglas at an angle. It is situated to the east of this small bridge is a naturally slightly more shallow part of the river. It is constructed out of about 6 stones that are balanced on 5 bases (In its present state). This image was taken from the southwestern bank. The Bridge is situated in Rahoonagh Co. Cork (51,924461 , -9,142438) and has the SMR number CO069-017. (Photo taken on the 02.03.2024)

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This Image shows the site with the SMR number CO058-034005. It is situated between multiple monuments that create the complex around the modern church of St. Gobanait in Ballyvourney, Muskerry Co. Cork (51,938194 , -9,167526). The image shows the southern face of the and the modern usage of the site. Outside of the modern offerings one can also see multiple wear features like the indents in the foreground.

(Photo taken on the 02.03.2024)

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Alexander von Lunen

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Photo of the Fulacht Fiadh at Ballyvourney (SMR: CO058-033—-), showing the stone-lined pit at the Western end (difficult to see due to overgrowth). The pit is 2m in length, with 1.8m in width at its western end, and 0.8m at its southern end. The height of the stones is c. 0.6m. Photo was taken from its southern end, pointing towards NW (320°).

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Photo of the church ruin at St Gobnat, also known as Teampall Ghobnatan (SMR: CO058-034007). According to folklore, this church stands on the grave of St. Gobnat. Dimensions of the church is 26m in length (incl. the chapel), the width is 7.4m (own tape measurement). Photo was taken beside the later Protestant church at the Western end of the graveyard, pointing East.

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Photo of the Holywell (SMR: CO058-034009-) at the St. Gobnet complex, or Tober Ghobnatan Holy Well, according to the sign at the entrance. The decorations and drinking cups indicate its popularity with pilgrims. Photo taken on the Southern side of the well, pointing NW.

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Photo of Stone Circle at Gort an Mill (SMR: CO069-013—-); nine stones (according to the NMS website; I counted 11) on a shallow, boggy moor, south of River Douglas. Photo taken from SE, pointing NWW (300°).

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Photo of Clapper Bridge (SMR: CO069-017—-) in the township of Rahoonagh West, crossing the River Douglas. Bridge is 19m in length, and made from 11 slabs (each c. 1.9m in length), sitting on 8 rough masonry stones in the water (height of each c. 0.9m). Some slabs at the SE end have fallen in to the water. Photo taken from the northern side, pointing SW (220°).

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Site map for Carrigaphooca Castle (SMR: CO070-034—-), generated with QGIS, using data from Open Street Map (river), Bing Maps (background satellite map), NMS (monument) and GPS points taken by me with a Garmin Dakota 20 (white dots). The white dots with blue arrows indicate that a photo was taken at this position, and in which direction (read off a compass). Those dots without arrows were GPS positions taken for reference.

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Photo of Carrigaphoora Castle (SMR: CO070-034—-), a five-storey tower house, built in the fifteenth or sixteenth century, c. 100m north of River Sullane. It measures 10.7m on its E-W axis, and 9.3m on its N-S axis (according to the NMS website). Photo was taken at position 002 (see above map), from c. 150m NE of the tower house, pointing SW (210°).

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Keeli Guilfoyle

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Carrigaphooca tower house (CO070-034), Carrigaphooca, Co. Cork facing SW. Note the partial bartizan in the NE corner allowing for defense of both the N and E walls. There is another bartizan in the SW corner, which is not pictured. The steepness of the rock outcrop on the E side makes this side more easily defensible, allowing for the presence of more windows. The natural defenses on this side also compensate for the thinning of the E wall to accommodate a staircase. Photo: K Guilfoyle, 02-03-2024.

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Gortanimill stone circle (CO069-013), Gortanimill, Co. Cork facing E. This is a multiple-stone circle made up of 11 stones. Note the two portal stones in the centre middleground. There is some uncertainty as to which stone is the axial stone (centre and left foreground, partially obscured). This stone circle is unusual because it is in a less visible position in the landscape than is typical for this type of monument. Photo: K Guilfoyle, 02-03-2024.

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Clapper bridge (CO069-017), Rahoonagh West, Co. Cork facing S. This bridge has been recently excavated and reconstructed. It would have needed constant maintenance and occasional reconstruction in the past, as well, since a buildup of material near the bridge or a period of flooding could have caused the stones to shift or fall into the river. This clapper bridge is one of very few sites of this type. Photo: K Guilfoyle, 02-03-2024.

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Fulacht fiadh (CO058-033), Gortnatubbrid, Co. Cork facing NW. Note the stones in the left middleground, which make up part of the secondary hearth. Although few visible stones remain today, this fulacht fiadh has been excavated. As part of the excavation, the site, including a hut, was reconstructed and used to test the hypothesis that food could be cooked at this site. This fulacht fiadh is situated near St. Gobnait’s Church complex. Photo: K Guilfoyle, 02-03-2024.

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St. Gobnait’s Church (CO058-034007), Glebe, Co. Cork facing E. Note the slightly off-center chancel arch, indicating the later addition of the chancel. Also note ‘an gadaidhe dubh’ in top centre of photo, a Romanesque carving believed to be the head of a thief turned to stone. This church is part of a larger complex containing a C of I church, St. Gobnait’s Grave, a holy well, and a graveyard that is still in use today. Photo: K Guilfoyle, 02-03-2024.

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Gretchen Kessler

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CO070-034. South-East corner of Carrigaphooca Castle, showcasing the Eastern side of the tower house. This side boasts the most windows of any side of the tower house, and clearly denotes the five floors within. The internal stairs are also located on this side of the building. The base of the tower is built directly onto the exposed bedrock, which rises from the fields in a natural outcropping. The tower house was reputedly built by Donal Mac Carthy in 1436, and measures 10.7m E-W by 9.3m N-S. Sullane River is also associated with the site, and would have been much larger in antiquity, affording the passage of substantial ships which speak to the tower house’s importance in trade. The tower house itself was home to the Mac Carthys of Drishane, first mentioned in Smith’s 1750 text, vol. 1. The modern river is located 100m to the left of the viewer. Photographed 2nd March 2024.

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CO070-034. The troops go marching one-by-one, hurrah! Steep, slippery, stone steps wind up the Northern face of Carrigaphooca Castle, where visitors duck through the opening to the groundfloor. Directly to the left of the doorway are the stairs which rise sharply through the interior of the tower house, to the old Great Hall (covered by a flagstone floor by the OPW in recent years), and roof (now non-existent). The bedrock can once again be seen at the base of the tower house. Just out of frame are the metal inserts where a local eccentric attempted to scale the wall! Photographed 2nd March 2024.

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CO058-034007 and CO058-034003. The interior of Ballyvourney Church (in ruins) with associated graveyard, which continues outside the ruin walls to the South and East of the church. The viewer here stands facing roughly North-West, and observes a large stone grave within the church nave (burial year indiscernible) which has been repaired with hefty iron "staples". Other graves located within the ruined church walls all date between the 18th-20th centuries. The nave itself is entered via the South-facing wall, the doorway just West of centre. A simple slit window on the South-facing wall, along with a pair of opposite windows light the interior, and the nave measures 19.2m E-W by 9.25m N-S. A chancel is added at the Eastern end. The graves are often still laid with flowers, suggesting some familial connections alive today to remember the dead. Photographed 2nd March 2024.

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CO058-0034008. Potential Sheela-na-gig, albeit a rather tame one. Not located on either 6-inch map. The viewer faces roughly North, observing the South side of the nave at Ballyvourney Church (in ruins). The figure sits atop a window opening and is cut in false relief into the exterior of the stone facade. Figure is portrayed with head, torso, and arms, which are crossed at the naval–no features are shared with a traditional Sheela-na-gig besides the crossing of the arms. The figure measures 0.3×0.2m. The church into which the figure is carved is that of the old Ballyvourney Church, known as Teampall Ghobnatan, which, according to tradition, marks the location of St. Gobnet’s convent. Photographed 2nd March 2024.

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CO069-017. Clapper Bridge crossing River Douglas, estimated construction sometime in the 12th or 13th centuries. Viewer faces roughly North-East. In the 1940 6-inch map, the bridge is referred to as "Stepping Stones." Presently, the bridge is formed by 11 stone slabs, supported by eight masonry piers. There were originally more stones constituting the bridge, but slabs at the South-East end have fallen into the river. Locals participate in upkeep of the bridge, recently removing accumulated brush, sticks, and leaves to restore the bridge to use. The bridge continues east under the present ground. This spot is also a natural fording point of the River Douglas, affording convenient use through history. Photographed 2nd March 2024.

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Ruby Kloskowski

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ITM Coordinates: 529236 , 573435

Latitude and Longitude: 51.908558 , -9.028478

Orientation of photo: NE facing SW

Date: 2/03/2024

The Carrigaphooca castle ( rock of the ghost?) is situated on a glacial outcrop. This high vantage position aided in intervisibility but also in creating a larger perspective for the tower house. The tower house is 5 storeys high and contained essentials like garderobe and a large amount of windows on the east facing wall. It also contained features like a defensive machicolation and bartizans on each corner. The west facing side also has a shored wall for extra defence. The fifth floor also has evidence of an allure presumably present however it does not survive in the archaeological context. Within the interior of the tower house many of the windows are square set and some windows are splayed lintel windows. The first floor was most likely supported by corbels which would hold the structural beams for the floor and the second floor has beam holes present showing a different form of floor construction. The ground floor would have most likely have straw laid down on the floor for heat and ease of maintenance. The upper floors are built up on a blunt pointed arch which would have functioned as not only structurally important piece of architecture but also as a fire break protecting the residence in the case of a fire in the lower floors.

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ITM Coordinates: 520842 , 574136

Latitude and Longitude: 51.913729 , -9.150611

Orientation of photo: south facing north

Date: 2/03/2024

This site is situated on an elevation above the general landscape with a scenic view of the landscape around it perhaps enhancing its spiritual and ritualistic symbolism. There were 11 standing stones present with the two standing stones directly in front of me presumably being the portal stones with the closest most stone most likely being the axial stone due to its orientation to the sun. The centre stone has a large amount of white quartz (Clocha Geala/Clocha Uaisle in irish) which has a significant importance for prehistoric civilizations due to their connotation to supernatural spirits. This connection between white quartz and ritualistic sites can be seen from gorteanish to the passage tomb of newgrange. Stone circles like this one represent a major ritualistic site within the irish landscape. The national Monuments Service: Archaeological Survey of Ireland recorded 41 sites similar to this multiple stone circle just within County Cork.

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ITM Coordinates: 519783 , 576876

Latitude and Longitude: 51.938202 , -9.166639

Orientation of photo: NE facing SW

Date: 2/03/2024

ruins of Ballyvourney parish church, known as Teampall Ghobnatan. The church now in ruins still has a major presence within the site due to its accumulation of graves and importance, and according to traditions it is regarded to be situated on the grounds where st gobnaits convent once stood. Alongside the walls some of the windows above them have a female figure carved in relief, these carvings are often referred to as sheela na gig and have importance as fertility symbols or grotesques that warn against lust and protect against evil which further ties in this church and its history with st gobnait. The church is also situated within its glebe, a glebe is a piece of land associated with the church where the priest would able to farm.

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ITM Coordinates: 521423 , 575321

Latitude and Longitude: 51.924461 , -9.142438

Orientation of photo: NE facing SW

Date: 2/03/2024

This architectural structure is often referred to as a clapper bridge, the Bridge 19m in length, formed by eleven slabs. It is one of a few within county Cork for example the Gougane Barra clapper bridge, Ballingeary clapper bridge, and the Aghavrin clapper bridge. These forms are relatively rare in ireland however cork has a large enough distribution. This low amount of recorded bridges can be due to their lack of longevity and most are usually lost to currents and flooding if not maintained. This exact site was recently restored by a local archaeologist. These forms of bridges formed an integral part of earlier transport before the introduction of main roads paved by tarmac within the countryside with even relatively recently locals recounting using them for transport across these streams. The word clapper is thought to derive from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘cleaca’, meaning stepping stones, or ‘bridging the stepping stones’. The largest complete clapper bridge in Ireland, 50m long it is located west of Louisburgh, Co. Mayo.

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ITM Coordinates: 519810 , 576811

Latitude and Longitude: 51.937622 , -9.166232

Orientation of photo: S facing N

Date: 2/03/2024

Locally known as a rag tree used to ask for blessings. ‘Holy trees’ were taken over with the wells. They are often called ‘rag’ or ‘cloutie’ (another word for ‘rag’) trees because rags were tied to trees, or objects left there, in the belief that, while they remained, the prayers were still effective. The Holy well and rag tree are positioned as one of the stations within the pilgrimage around St Gobnaits holy site. Celtic lore held bees in high esteem, believing the soul left the body as a bee or a butterfly. Gobnait is said to have added beekeeping to her life’s work, developing a lifelong affinity with them. She started a religious order and dedicated her days to helping the sick. Because of this connection with bees many legends surrounding her image implement bee iconography. She is also known for her connection with the 9 white deer of a folklore of her veneration and due to this the site of both St Gobnaits grave and church depict white deer and bee imagery.

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Matthew Twohig

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This is an image of the Carrigaphooca Tower House, a structure built in the 15th Century. Given the SMR number CO070-034, this tower was built during the Middle Ages to serve as a defensive structure. The Tower House is being viewed along the North-West, with the South-Eastern corner being visible. The structure is five storeys tall as indicated by the windows on the Eastern wall. While the ceiling is no longer intact, the great hall of the structure remains.

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This photo depicts the Gort an Imill standing stones, an ancient Mesolithic structure, recorded with the SMR number CO069-013. Found in the boggy mountainous region of Gort an Imill, there appear to be 11 stones making up this array, with one of them found in the centre of the stone circle. This circle was viewed along from the North-West.

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This is a photograph of the Rahoonagh West Clapper Bridge, labelled CO069-017 under the Sites and Monuments Record. This bridge was potentially constructed in the Medieval Age and is one of six found in Cork, and one of five found within the local area. Depending on the height of the tide, this bridge while stable enough to support the average human, may disassemble from tidal forces. This photo was taken from the South.

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This image depicts a portion of the graveyard found within St. Gobnait’s Church in Ballyvourney, recorded with SMR number CO058-034003. The church itself is dedicated to Saint Gobnait, patron saint of bees, among other things, and a figure who dates to the 5th/6th Centuries. This photo was taken approximately from the East.

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This photo shows St. Gobnait’s Holy Well, recorded by the Sites and Monuments Record as CO058-034009. This 5th/6th Century well is a drainage feature from Saint Gobnait’s home, with the tree adjacent to it decorated with ribbons and similar trinkets, with cups at the ready for those who may wish to drink the water from the well. The ribbons are cut in a fashion known as “The Measure of Gobnait”, in which the ribbons are cut North-to-South and East-to-West along a statue of the saint. The photo was taken from the North-West.

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Fionn Simpson

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A 13th century stone bridge built by placing piles of stone to serve as supports in the stream and laying large stone slabs across the piles. Uncommon in Ireland, and likely brought to the country with the Normans.

The photo was taken facing southeast.

According to the ‘Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork’ seen on the heritage data maps; the bridge is 19 metres in length and consists of 11 slabs.

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An early 15th century tower house built by the McCarthy family. It consists of 5 floors and is heavily fenestrated. The number of windows on the west face is likely due to the amount of light allowed in during sunrise. The remains of a bartizan are visible at the northeast corner of the structure, and though not visible, a second bartizan can be seen at the southwest corner. The entrance is on the north face of the structure, positioned below the northeast bartizan. Its position on a stone plateau gives it a commanding position in the landscape, as well as a clear view of its surroundings.

The photo was taken facing west.

According to the ‘Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork’ seen on the heritage data maps; the diameter of the tower is 10.7m east to west, and 9.3m north to south.

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Interior photo of the northwest corner of Carrigaphooca tower house. This photo shows the heavily fenestrated nature of the structure, as well as three primary features. Firstly, is the blunt vault roof separating the fourth and fifth floors of the tower, likely as a defensive measure in the event of a fire. Secondly are the methods by which the wooden floor would have been placed on each level. On the centre right of the photo; beam-holes are visible where large wooden beams would be slotted to allow for wooden planks to be laid parallel forming the floor. On the top left of the photo a corbel is visible, an alternate method of forming the floor. Wooden planks would be laid across the walls, resting on the corbels and the remaining planks would then be placed parallel similarly to the aforementioned method. Lastly is the segmental arch seen on the right side of the photo, on the towers north face.

Photo was taken facing northwest.

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This stone circle is situated on the South slope of a hill positioned in the Douglas river valley. The number of stones is contested. The ‘Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork’ states that there are 9 stones, though at present there seems to be more. It is likely that stones were added later, though it is possible that some of the stones were hidden under dirt or foliage. The Entrance stones are facing northeast, and the stones get shorter as they lead to the axial stone opposite the entrance stones at the southwest of the circle. A quartz stone can be seen at the centre of the circle and the overall placement of the site gives a clear and panoramic view of the distant mountains and ridges to the north.

Photo taken facing northeast.

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A holy well positioned in the parish of Glebe, which encompasses an early medieval church, a burial mound, and a hut site. It is positioned south of the church’s cemetery grounds, with the well’s front facing north. A rag tree is positioned to the west of the well, about 1.5 meters from its opening. The well is the final station in St. Gobnait’s pilgrimage which also involves the other previously mentioned monuments. It is still in frequent use, and though a historical monument, is an important part of the local people’s everyday lives.

The photo was taken facing south.

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Louise Murphy

1-Louise Murphy – CO070-034

Townland: Carrigaphooca

Parish: Clondrohid

Barony: Muskerry West

County: Cork

Townland Name Translation: Rock of the Fairy

ITM Coordinates: 529236 , 573435

SMR: CO070-034—-

Monument Type: Castle / Tower House

Historical maps:

• 6 inch (1829-1941) “Carrigaphooca Castle – In Ruins”

• 25 inch (1897-1913) “Carrigaphooca Castle”

Date visited: 02/03/2024

Carrigaphooca Castle is located in the Carrigaphooca townland to the east of Macroom Town and is surrounded by rich agricultural land owned by the Healy family. It is an example of an early Irish tower house and is quite a simple structure without more complex features such as fireplaces and chimneys. It is said to have been built in 1436 by Donal Mac Carthy. This monument is a five-story rectangular tower house built on top of a rocky outcrop with steep sides. The blunt pointed vaulted ceiling is still in place, this holds the walls together and would have also served as a fire break for the great hall on the top floor. The ground floor (6.5m E-W; 5.4m N-S) is lit with three windows which are placed off-centre in the E, S and W walls. The outer walls visibly become wider at the base, this is known as battering. This feature not only gives the tower structural support but is also defensive as it thickens the areas of the wall most open to ground attack. The door is located on the ground floor north-facing wall and accessed via modern stone steps. The photograph below shows the east-facing wall. The diagonally placed lines of windows were positioned to light the internal staircase. To accommodate the staircase the east-facing wall is thinner. As the weakest wall, its placement on the steepest side of the rock crop was probably intentional. On the N.E. corner, there are the remains of a bartizan. A defensive feature that has been used to defend the tower from above. Placement on the corner meant both the north and east walls could be defended from the same position. A bartizan on the S.W corner served the same purpose.

2 -Louise Murphy – CO070-034

Townland: Carrigaphooca

Parish: Clondrohid

Barony: Muskerry West

County: Cork

Townland Name Translation: Rock of the Fairy

ITM Coordinates: 529236 , 573435

SMR: CO070-034—-

Monument Type: Castle / Tower House

Historical maps:

• 6 inch (1829-1941) “Carrigaphooca Castle – In Ruins”

• 25 inch (1897-1913) “Carrigaphooca Castle”

Date visited: 02/03/2024

South Embrasure – Ground Floor Chamber

This picture shows the south-facing window placed in the SE corner of the ground floor chamber. The inner part of the embrasure is square set and covered with a segmented vault. The outer part is smaller and shorter, covered by lintels. Sunlight enters the chamber through a square-headed light. This type of opening is flared inward. It’s very narrow on the outside for defensive purposes and wide on the inside to allow more light to enter. This also allows archers to have more manoeuvrability when deafening the tower house from within. The arch of the segmented vault would have been constructed using the technique of wicker centering. A bed of wicker was used to support the archstones during construction. The impression of the wicker is still preserved in the mortar. In the picture below, where the wicker-centred arch meets the flat wall of the embrasure on the right side three Nib holes are visible. These would have supported timber beams placed across the width of the vault which in turn supported the wicker bed during the arches construction. Although glass technology existed at this time, animal skins stretched over a wooden frame would most likely have been used to close the window opening. The space provided by the vault would have been used for storage or as seating.

3a- 3b -Louise Murphy – CO058-033

Townland: Gortnatubbrid

Parish: Ballyvourney

Barony: Muskerry West

County: Cork

Townland Name Translation: Field of the spring-well

ITM Coordinates: 519977 , 576917

SMR: CO058-033—-

Monument Type: Fulacht Fia

Historical maps:

• 6 inch (1829-1941) – Not annotated

• 25 inch (1897-1913) – Not annotated

Date visited: 02/03/2024

This fulacht fia is located in the townland of Gortnatubbrid. One possible translation of the name is ‘Field of the spring-well’. Excavated in 1951 by M.J O’Kelly it is not annotated on either the 6 or the 25-inch Ordnance Survey maps. Excavations revealed a central trough, a primary and secondary hearth, a pit, evidence of a wigwam-like wooden structure and a burnt mound. The immediate vicinity is quite waterlogged with water trickling through the grass in several spots. Therefore we can assume the central trough would have been filled by the seeping groundwater. Located in a clearing of St. Gobnait’s Wood not much of the site remains visible above ground. The image below (3a) was taken from around the most easterly point of the primary hearth slabs facing north. Some of the secondary hearth slabs were visible as well as some of the 11 slabs that arced around the secondary heart itself. One or two slabs of the 6 slabs that arced around the primary hearth were also visible. I have included an excavation drawing (3b) of the fulacht fia below, areas in which I observed visible stones are highlighted. This site could have been used for cooking, water boiling, brewing or as a sweathouse. UCC Professor M.J O’Kelly used the site in the 1950s to conduct experimental archaeology. He was able to cook meat in the central trough using the 20 minutes to the lb and 20 leftover formula.

4-Louise Murphy – CO069-013

Townland: Gortanimill

Parish: Kilnamartery

Barony: Muskerry West

County: Cork

Townland Name Translation: Field of the Border

ITM Coordinates: 520842 , 574136

SMR: CO069-013—-

Monument Type: Stone Circle

Historical maps:

• 6 inch (1829-1941) – “Stone Circle”

• 25 inch (1897-1913) – “Stone Circle”

Date visited: 02/03/2024

Located 227.64m OD this stone circle is in an area that is hilly with rocky outcrops. This stone circle is part of the Cork and Kerry stone circle complex of mid-to-late bronze age monuments. It is annotated on both the 6-inch and 25-inch Ordnance Survey maps as “Stone Circle”. The circle consists of 9 stones and has a quartz block in its centre. Quartz is frequently found in association with bronze age monuments such as this. The internal diameter is 7.5m along its main axis, NNE-SSW. The picture below was taken from elevated ground looking over the stone circle facing north. The axial stone is in the immediate foreground and the two portal stones are across from the axial in the middle ground.

5-Louise Murphy – CO058-034007

Townland: Glebe

Parish: Ballyvourney

Barony: Muskerry West

County: Cork

Townland Name Translation: ?

ITM Coordinates: 519783 , 576876

SMR: CO058-034007-

Monument Type: Church

Historical maps:

• 6 inch (1829-1941) – “Church”

• 25 inch (1897-1913) – “St. Gobnet’s Church – In Ruins”

Date visited: 02/03/2024

These church ruins are a part of St. Gobnait’s Complex (CO058-034001-11) in Glebe in Ballyvourney. The ruins of Ballyvourney parish church, known as Teampall Ghobnatan are located in the east end of the older part of St. Gobnait’s Cemetery and is thought to have been built on the site of St. Gobnait’s convent. St. Gobnait is a 6th-century Irish saint associated with bees and deer. According to O’Kelly, the church dates from the late medieval period, circa the 12th century. He was also certain it stood on the site of an earlier building (1952:37). Like all Christian churches it is orientated E-W. The nave of the church is entered via a doorway on the south-facing wall. It would have been lit by simple slit windows in the south and north walls. The nave measures 19.2m E-W, 9.25m N-S and the chancel measures 8.55m E-W, 6.55m N-S. A lintelled doorway 2m above the ground on the west gable suggests the presence of a once adjoining structure, possibly a steeple. The north-facing wall has a glassed display of the stations of the cross; this was added in 1993. To the west of the ruins is a small mound which is said to be the grave of St. Gobnait. The complex is also known as St. Gobnait’s shrine. It is an important pilgrimage site and devotees can be seen ‘making the rounds’ at the stations. Included in the 10 stations are the ruins, St. Gobnait’s grave, a hut site (CO058-034001), and a holy well (CO058-034009). The picture below was taken facing northeast. In it, you can see a devotee praying at the 9th station on the west-facing gable of the church.

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