Drishane Castle is a MacCarthy tower house and National Monument located in County Cork, Ireland.

Location

Drishane Castle is located 2.2 km (1.4 mi) northeast of Millstreet, on the south bank of the Munster Blackwater.[4]

History

The tower house at Drishane was built by the MacCarthy (Mac Cárthaigh) clan c. 1436–50. It was probably begun by Dermot Mór, the second son of Tadhg (King of Desmond 1390–1428). Tadhg, son of Owen was in possession of Drishane Castle in 1592 when he surrendered it to Queen Elizabeth I and got a regrant.[5] His son Owen (Eoin) still held the castle at his death in 1637.

All MacCarthy lands were forfeit after the Irish Confederate Wars (1641–53), but were restored to Donough MacCarty, 1st Earl of Clancarty in 1660 when Charles II regained the throne.

The MacCarthys again lost their lands after the Williamite War (1689–91). The land fell to the Hollow Sword Blade Company, who sold it to Henry Wallis in 1709; the Wallises took full ownership in 1728. During the Fenian Rising of 1867, Drishane Castle was garrisoned. It remained in Wallis hands until 1882, later being owned by Patrick Stack. It became a convent in 1909, owned by the Sisters of the Infant Jesus, who operated a boarding secondary school for girls until 1992. It was bought by the Duggan family and became a centre for asylum seekers.[6][7]

View of Drishane Castle, next to the Wallis big house.

Castle

The castle is a tower house 22 m tall. It is built of stone with four storeys and narrow arrowslits. There are ""Irish"" crenellations on the roof, and a small circular tower next to the castle.

Drishane Castle is open to the public during summer from 9am to 5pm (between May and September). For the rest of the year, visits may be arranged by appointment.