You can be the king of this castle for a mere €150,000

THE siting was obvious - what better place to guard the access point to Great Island than at its narrowest point to mainland county Cork?

Built in the 14th century, Belvelly Castle was a pragmatic structure for its day, and almost 600 years later has stood the literal test of time.

Now up for sale with a €150,000 price guide with agents Hamilton Osborne King, it will be a challenging project for any new owner - and the purchase price will be the least of the cost implications.

Location is on the tidal waterway close to edge of Fota on the way to Cobh, accessed via the early 1800s humpback bridge to Great Island, with a Martello tower across the road for historic company.

A solid, square tower about 80’ in height standing on little more than its own footprint, Belvelly Castle could be considered a site to work sensitively with, and will make for a novel home or project.

The good news for anyone thinking of conversion is the bank of expertise built up in the Munster area in recent years in castle renovation and conservation - witness Roy Disney’s Kilbrittain Castle, Jeremy Irons’ Kilcoe Castle, Innishannon castle and Castlefreke to name a few.

The castle is said to be associated with the Hodnett family, from Shropshire, while Sir Walter Raleigh had temporary possession.

Features at the unroofed four storey tower include mullioned windows, remains of battlements, murder hole, a spiral staircase, and the views from the top are keen: glimpsed in the distance are the three nestling cranes poking through the trees on Fota Estate - no, not some exotic birds, rather construction cranes building the new hotel alongside the golf course, belonging to Fleming Construction... let’s call them Flemingos.