Ballyderown Castle

Ballyderown Castle lies in the townland of the same name, in County Cork, in Ireland.

Ballyderown Castle is thought to have been built in the late 12th or early 13th century by the Condons, descendants of the Anglo-Norman De Cauntetons. It was however only first mentioned shortly after the murder of David Condon in 1342.

The castle appears to have remained in Condon hands throughout the Middle Ages because it was forfeited along with other possessions following Patrick Condon's participation in one of the Desmond Rebellions in the later 16th century. It then became a residence of the Fleetwood family, who retained it until the late 17th century, when it passed to a Stephen Moore of Clonmel. His grandson later became Viscount Mountcashell. It then remained Mountcashell property until the early 20th century. In the 1950s it was incorporated into the grounds of the Ballyderown Farm, a crop evaluation center.

The castle was built on a low cliff-edge overlooking the River Araglin, a tributary of the Munster Blackwater. It was a hall house or chamber-tower and would probably have been surrounded by an enclosure or outbuildings, maybe constructed out of timber. All that remains now is the ruin of the rectangular tower, of which the south corner has disappeared.

Ballyderown Castle is now situated on the premises of a farm and thus can not be visited. Sadly enough it is very much overgrown by ivy which obscures any architectural detail. Not very interesting.

Gallery