Preservation group bids to save castle from collapse

Sean O’Riordan

A serious crack has been detected in a key lintel of Carrigadrohid Castle, near Macroom. If it is not reinforced soon a major part of the structure could come crashing down.

The situation is now extremely serious, according to Peter Scanlon, chairman of Carrigadrohid Castle Project Company, which involves local people who want to retain their unique heritage.

“It is in need of urgent and serious repair. There are a number of concerns, but one in particular is a crack in a lintel under one of the arches. If it goes it would bring down a considerable part of the structure,” he said.

Built in 1455, the castle is believed to be the last of its type in western Europe. It stands on a rock outcrop in the River Lee, approximately five miles east of Macroom. The name Carrigadrohid translates as the rock of the bridge, which stood there as early as 1573.

It is a tower house; a type of castle built extensively throughout Ireland in the Middle Ages, from the 15th to 17th century. These were the fortified residences of local lords and chieftains, both of the native Irish families and the descendants of the Anglo-Norman settlers.

They were frequently built close to river crossings in order to control movement along and across river valleys, but this particular example at Carrigadrohid is rare in actually being built in the river.

The presence of a rock outcrop in the river made this a natural bridging point with relatively simple wooden structures sufficient to span the two channels formed by the rock outcrop.

Mr Scanlon said that given “the disturbed political and social conditions of late medieval Ireland”, a castle would have been essential to protect the passage of people and goods over the bridge.

The owner of the castle has been located and it is understood that person is willing to give permission for whatever it takes to preserve the unique structure.

“It is our intention to get Cork County Council to take responsibility for this (its upkeep). As far as we know it’s the only castle of its kind left in Europe. It is a major heritage site,” Mr Scanlon said.

Local county councillor Michael Creed is set to ask council officials to intervene, before the castle falls down and its heritage is lost forever.