Liscarroll Castle

Liscarroll Castle is in the heart of Liscarroll village, north county Cork. This castle, along with Kilbolane Castle, formed a defensive line against attack form resurgent Gaelic clans. The large Anglo-Norman castle consists of an inner quadrangular ward, enclosed by a curtain wall with circular flanking towers on each corner, with two D-shaped towers flanking a central gate tower. The stone castle was built using limestone.

Liscarroll Castle was built by the Barry’s (kinsmen to the Barryscourt Castle Barry’s & Ballybeg Priory Barry’s) in the 13^th century with later additions from the 16^th century. The Battle of Liscarroll in 1642 saw over 600 people killed, families decimated, and prisoners hanged, with mass graves dug for the dead. David Barry, 1^st Earl of Barrymore, and his half-brother, Lewis Boyle, son of the 1^st Earl of Cork, were among those who died.

Entry to the castle was through the gate tower; as this was the weakest part of the castle, with a wide opening, it was the most protected. The gate tower had a portcullis, the mechanisms of which are still visible, murder holes, possible machicolation and narrow slit windows. Most of these types of towers are primarily for defence, and a moat surrounded Liscarroll for further protection.

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