Rostellan Castle, Rostellan, co Cork – demolished 1944
Photograph from the National Library of Ireland
Bence-Jones, Mark. A Guide to Irish Country Houses (originally published as Burke’s Guide to Country Houses volume 1 Ireland by Burke’s Peerage Ltd. 1978); Revised edition 1988 Constable and Company Ltd, London.
p. 248. “(Inchiquin, B/PB; Wise/LG1886) A c18 house at the end of a broad peninsula jutting into Cork Harbour, built on the site of an old castle and possibly incorporating parts of it. The castle, which originally belonged to the Fitzgeralds, was captured in 1645 by Murrough O’Brien, 6th Lord and afterwards 1st Earl of Inchiquin – the notorious “Morrough of the Burings” – to whom it was granted . It was rebuilt as a house some time ante 1750, probably by the 4th Earl of Inchiquin, a prominent member of the “water club,” founded 1720, which grew into the Royal Cork, the oldest yacht club in the British Isles. There is a legend that the building of the house disturbed an old graveyard, and that a woman cursed the Inchiquins for removing the gravestone of her family, predicting that they would hever have a direct heir. And indeed, neither 4th Earl nor his three immediate successors had any sons; after which the male line of Morrough of the Burnings became extinct. In 1777, 5th Earl, afterwards 1st Marquess of Thomond, enlarged and remodelled the house, to which further additions and alterations were carried out early C19 by his nephew, 2nd Marquess. …The 5th Earl and 1st Marquess built a tower in honour of Mrs Siddons, whom he entertained here. After the death of the 3rd and last Marquess of Thomond, 1855, Rostellan was bought by Dr T.A. Wise. It was subsequently bought by the politician and colonial administrator, Sir John Hope-Hennessy, sometime owner of Myrtle Grove, It was finally owned by C.J. Engledow, MP. After standing empty for some years, it was demolished 1944.”
Rostellan Castle, County Cork, courtesy of Mark Bence-Jones.Murrough O’Brien (1614-1674) 1st Earl of Inchiquin by John Michael Wright courtesy of Manchester Art Gallery.William O’Brien (1638-1692) 2nd Earl of Inchiquin, 7th Baron Inchiquin https///commons.wikimedia.orgWilliam O’Brien (1666-1719) 3rd Earl of Inchiquin https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File/William_O%27Brien,_3rd_Earl_of_Inchiquin.jpg#/media/File/William_O’Brien,_3rd_Earl_of_InchiquinMurrough O’Brien, 1st Marquess of Thomond KP, PC (1726–1808), 5th Earl of Inchiquin (1777–1800) by Henry Bone courtesy of Bonhams.Mary Palmer, Countess of Inchiquin, Marchioness of Thomond (1750-1820), wife of Murrough O’Brien, 1st Marquess (after Sir Joshua Reynolds) by Thomas Phillips courtesy of National Trust Petworth.Mary, Countess of Inchiquin (née Palmer), (1750-1820), 2nd wife of 4th Earl of Inchiquin, later 1st Marquess of Thomond After Thomas Lawrence, English, 1769-1830, photograph courtesy of National Gallery of Ireland.Miss Henrietta O’Brien by Stephen Slaughter 1746. She married first Terence O’Loughlen and second William Vigors Burdett 2nd Baronet, and was sister of Anne who married Archbishop Cox of Cashel.
Listed in Vanishing Country Houses of Ireland by The Knight of Glin, David J. Griffin and Nicholas K. Robinson, published by The Irish Architectural Archive and The Irish Georgian Society, 1988.
The Buildings of Ireland. Cork City and County. Frank Keohane. Yale University Press: New Haven and London. 2020.
p. 26. For the most part, the Gothic revival in the C18 was reserved for garden buildings and follies, of which the lodge at Woodhill (Montenotte, Cork city) is an much altered example. Late C18 battlemented towers are found at Trabolgan (Whitegate), Rostellan (near Cloyne) and Cloyne….lodge at Maryborough.
Munster’s counties are Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford.
I have noticed that an inordinate amount of OPW sites are closed ever since Covid restrictions, if not even before that (as in Emo, which seems to be perpetually closed) [these sites are marked in orange here]. I must write to our Minister for Culture and Heritage to complain.
Clare:
1. Ennis Friary, County Clare
2. Scattery Island, County Clare
Limerick:
3. Askeaton Castle, County Limerick
4. Desmond Castle, Adare, County Limerick
5. Desmond Banqueting Hall, Newcastlewest, County Limerick
6. Lough Gur, County Limerick
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Clare:
1. Ennis Friary, Abbey Street, Ennis, County Clare:
Ennis Friary, photograph from Ireland’s Content Pool, Photograph by Eamon Ward 2020 for Failte Ireland. [1]
General Enquiries: 065 682 9100, ennisfriary@opw.ie
“The O’Briens of Thomond, who once ruled much of north Munster, founded this medieval Franciscan friary. It grew quickly into a huge foundation, with 350 friars and a famed school of 600 pupils by 1375. It was the very last school of Catholic theology to survive the Reformation.
The building contains an exceptional wealth of fifteenth- and sixteenth-century sculptures carved in the local hard limestone, including one of St Francis himself displaying the stigmata. An arch between the nave and transept bears a remarkable image of Christ with his hands bound.
Don’t forget to visit the sacristy, an impressive structure with a ribbed, barrel-vaulted ceiling. Take especial note of the beautiful east window, with its five lancets, as it lights up the chancel.” [2]
Ennis Friary, photograph from Ireland’s Content Pool, Photograph by Eamon Ward 2020 for Failte Ireland. [see 1]
2. Scattery Island, County Clare:
Scattery Island, lies just off Kilrush, on the Shannon Estuary, in County Clare. It is the site of an early Christian settlement founded by St Senan, who built his monastery in the early sixth century. A short boat trip from Kilrush will take you to the island, where you can explore its multi-layered, 1,500-year history including its round tower and six ruined churches. Photograph from Ireland’s Content Pool, by Airswing Media for Failte Ireland. [see 1]
“Off the northern bank of the Shannon Estuary lies Scattery Island, the site of an early Christian settlement founded by an extraordinary man.
St Senan, who was born in the area, built his monastery in the early sixth century. It included a mighty round tower, which at 36 metres is one of the tallest in Ireland.
There are six ruined churches on the site too. The Church of the Hill stands on a high spot, the very place where, legend has it, an angel placed Senan so that he could find – and then banish – the terrible sea-monster called the Cathach. It is believed that Senan is buried beside another of the medieval churches.
Scattery was invaded many times over the centuries. The Vikings in particular believed that the monastery held many riches and returned several times to ravage it.
A short boat trip will take you to the island, where you can explore its multi-layered, 1,500-year history.“
Limerick:
3.Askeaton Castle, County Limerick:
General information: 087 113 9670, askeatoncastle@opw.ie
“In the very heart of this County Limerick town stand the impressive remains of a medieval fortress. Askeaton Castle dates from 1199, when William de Burgo built it on a rock in the River Deel.
Over the centuries, the castle proved itself key to the history of Munster. It was the power base of the earls of Desmond after 1348. In 1579 it held out against the English general Sir Nicholas Malby, an incident that helped spark the second Desmond Rebellion.
The banqueting hall is one of the finest medieval secular buildings in Ireland. The tower is partly ruined, but some fine windows and an exquisite medieval fireplace have remained.
The early eighteenth-century building nearby was used as a Hellfire Club. These clubs were rumoured to be dens of excess in which wealthy gentlemen indulged in drink, mock ritual and other nefarious activities.“
The Fitzgeralds, Earls of Desmond, held the castle for over 200 years and ruled Munster from it.
4. Desmond Castle, Adare, County Limerick:
General information: 061 396666, info@adareheritagecentre.ie
Desmond Castle Adare, Co Limerick, Lawrence Photographic Collection National Library of Ireland, by Robert French.
“Desmond Castle Adare epitomises the medieval fortified castle in Ireland. It is strategically situated on the banks of the River Maigue, from where its lords could control any traffic heading to or from the Shannon Estuary.
The castle was built for strength and security. A formidable square keep forms its core; the keep stands within a walled ward surrounded by a moat.
Desmond Castle Adare changed hands several times before becoming a key bastion of the earls of Desmond in the sixteenth century. During the Second Desmond Rebellion, however, it fell to the English after a bloody siege. Cromwellian forces laid waste to the building in 1657, although restorers have since helped to recall its former glory.
Guided tours are now available for anyone who wants to walk in the footsteps of the FitzGeralds and experience their courageous spirit.“
This castle belonged to the Earls of Kildare for nearly 300 years until the rebellion in 1536, when it was forfeited and granted to the Earls of Desmond who gave the castle its present name.
5.Desmond Banqueting Hall, Newcastlewest, County Limerick:
General information: 069 77408, desmondhall@opw.ie
“Many of Ireland’s surviving medieval halls are in west Limerick. The Desmond Banqueting Hall in Newcastle West is one of the most impressive among them.
It was begun in the thirteenth century by Thomas ‘the Ape’ FitzGerald, so named because of the story that an ape took him from his cradle to the top of Tralee Castle – and delivered him safely back again.
However, most of the spacious, imposing structure was created in the fifteenth century, at the height of the Desmond earls’ power, and used as a venue for frequent and lavish banquets.
The oak gallery, from which musicians would provide a raucous soundtrack for the revelry below, has been fully restored.“
Lough Gur, photograph from Ireland’s Content pool, by Ken Williams 2021 for Failte Ireland. [see 1]
The Irish Homes and Gardens website tells us that Ireland’s first settlers arrived around 8000BC. The introduction of farming in 4000BC saw a move to a more settled lifestyle and the building of farmsteads, with both circular and rectangular house styles being used. The first rectangular house and the largest concentration of Neolithic structures were found in Lough Gur dating back to 3500BC.
Although none of these houses remain, the lasting legacy from this period on the Irish landscape is the megalithic tomb: the Dolmen or Portal tomb with its huge capstone or lintel, balanced on smaller stones and the Passage tombs, with their dry-stone passages leading to corbelled ceilings (circular layers of flattish stones closed with a single stone at the top). [ https://www.irishhomesandgardens.ie/irish-architecture-history-part-1/ ]
“Lough Gur is a site of international significance due to the area’s rich archaeology and environment. It is home to Ireland’s oldest and largest stone circle and the only natural lake of significance in South East Limerick. Lough Gur also has an abundance of ancient monuments in State care with a reported 2,000 archaeological monuments in a 5km radius. Visitors to Lough Gur Lakeshore Park will find a hillside visitor centre where you can take part in a guided or self guided tour of the exhibition. There is also an option to take a full outdoor guided tour of the archaeological monuments. Tours are tailor made and can range from 30 minutes to 3 hours. The Lakeshore Park and tours are run by Lough Gur Development Group.“
Lough Gur Visitor Centre, photograph from Ireland’s Content pool, by Keith Wiseman 2013 for Failte Ireland. [see 1]Lough Gur Visitor Centre, photograph from Ireland’s Content pool, by Keith Wiseman 2013 for Failte Ireland. [see 1]
Irish Historic Houses 