Carrigaphooca Castle

This five-storey tower house sits atop a steep rocky outcrop overlooking the Sullane River. The outcrop is believed to be haunted by a malicious ghost. Built in 1436 by Domhaill Mór MacCárthaig of Drishane, brother of Cormac who built Kilcrea Friary, on a strategic route way from Macroom to Kerry. The MacCárthaig’s were in constant battle with each other and, finally in 1602, the castle was taken by force by a distant kinsman - the 1^st Count of Berehaven, Donal Cam O’Sullivan Beare. The year prior, the 16^th Lord of Muskerry Cormac Teige MacCárthaig took refuge here after the Battle of Kinsale before he was forgiven by Elizabeth I.

The ground floor door on the north side of the tower gives access to the main ground floor chamber from which, at the east end, is a mural stairs which spirals up to the 4^th floor. The ground floor is lit by 3 off set windows of a single square-headed light. The first floor is lit by windows in the north and south walls, similar to the ground floor style of window. The second floor has the same window design, however the east window is lintelled. On the third floor a garderobe is located and is lit by splayed and lintelled windows. The final floor is lit by windows on the north, east, and south walls. A mural stairs leads to the north wall walk but no battlements survive, however the lower parts of a bartizan are intact at the NE and SW corners. No fireplaces throughout the tower indicates that the tower was built for military purposes rather than domestic living.

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This national monument is protected in accordance with the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014