Buildings
Barryscourt Castle – Battle Scarred But Brought Back to Life
Shedding some light
Master Craftsperson Pearse Kearney makes bronze windows and leadlights – diamond-shaped quarries of glass set in lattices of lead – for castles across the country.
His work at Barryscourt Castle started back in 2001 when the project’s architect asked for his input on restoring the castle’s very narrow windows. Pearse’s solution was to create a sample with diamond leadlights and a soldered, galvanised steel strip around the edge.
“The building’s voice is still speaking to us”
After four centuries at Barryscourt Castle, the last head of the well-known family was Lord David Barry, who, as Brendan Gleeson, foreperson with the OPW National Monuments explains, left his mark on the castle itself.
“The inscription over the fireplace reads ‘In 1588, David Barry and Eleanor Roche made me.’ This is a great feature within the building and ties back to when the building was repaired in the 16th century.”
“It’s almost like the building’s voice is still speaking to us.”
One of the biggest Tower Houses within the country and boasting one of the best intact bawn walls, the ground floor even contains a dungeon into which prisoners were dropped via the ‘drop-hole’ located on the second floor.
The Castle isn’t only a testament to heritage and centuries past, however, it has also been sufficiently upgraded so it can enjoy use in years to come. “We’ve done quite an extensive mechanical and electrical project within the building,” explains Brendan. “It opens up the building to many uses in the future.”
Visitors to Barryscourt will be able to explore the ground floor of the Castle and Tower House, with guided tours available for the upper floors.
The beautifully restored orchard will also be accessible, providing an atmospheric setting for cultural and educational events.
To celebrate the reopening, admission will be free for the 2025 season. Throughout the season, a variety of heritage talks, guided walks, and special events will be held, starting with a weekend of performance and talks on the 14th and 15th June 2025, featuring renowned musicians and insightful explorations of Ireland’s cultural heritage.
Barryscourt Castle’s reopening represents a significant achievement in Ireland’s heritage conservation efforts, reaffirming the OPW’s commitment to preserving and promoting our National Monuments.
