Islands of Ireland: Cork's Illaunseer hides a gruesome tale of Donegall Castle stonemasons

The master castle builders worked on a castle for a clan that first came to England with William the Conqueror and then to Ireland under Strongbow

En route to Illaunseer via Ringarogy causeway, Baltimore, Co Cork. The island is not just pretty much inaccessible to fishing traffic, there is not even a nearby road that approaches it affording a view of it. Picture: Dan MacCarthy

Not many of our islands are presumed to be the burial place for revered craftsmen. Illaunseer near Baltimore in West Cork is one such place where the stonemasons and other craftsmen who constructed Donegall Castle on Ringarogy island are thought to be buried.

The island nestles in the western extremity of the River Ilen Estuary and is not just pretty much inaccessible to fishing traffic, there is not even a nearby road that approaches it affording a view of it.