Liscarroll Castle

Liscarroll Castle lies in the village of Liscarroll in County Cork in Ireland.

Liscarroll Castle was built by the De Barrys, possibly by David Og de Barry, in the late 13th century. It consists of a large square courtyard with circular towers at the corner of the walls and a rectangular tower in the north wall. The entrance to the castle was through the gate tower in the south wall.

Liscarroll castle was built at a time when designers preferred not to build a keep, as is found in many other castles, but to place the buildings of the castle around the inside of the high curtain walls. These buildings, none of which survive, may have been made of wood and there would probably have been many temporary structures such as tents to accommodate soldiers and craftsmen living in the castle.

The main well, which supplied the castle with water, was situated in the southwest tower. The 13th century gate tower had a long entrance passage protected by a portcullis, heavy gates and possibly a drawbridge. In the late 15th century the gate tower was heightened by an extra story to provide more domestic accommodation.

In the 1620s Liscarroll Castle was acquired by Sir Philip Percival after being mortgaged to him by John Barry. In 1642 the castle endured a 13-day siege by a Confederate army led by Gerald Barry, only to be immediately retaken by Lord Inchiquin. In 1650 the castle was bombarded by the Cromwellian Sir Hardress Waller, which caused the loss of the upper part of the curtain walls on either side of the gate tower and the near total destruction of the southwest tower.

A great castle. When I visited it was closed. I don't know if its interior can be visited on other times.

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