Kanturk Castle, County Cork Ireland - What's The Story

"A man's home is his castle..." so the wise proverb says. Uunfortunately in this case, it turns out that Kanturk Castle, Co. Cork, Ireland never became a place of living. Regardless of it, what did get designed was and is magnificent. The main edifice is made up of four story, while each tower has 5 story.

Now as you stroll around this fine historical building, it's hard to believe that it was constructed in about 1601. four hundred years later and it is still holding strong. 'Bualadh bos' to the stone masons. (Bualadh bos is Irish/Gaelic for applause or praise) Legend tells that 7 stone masons all named John worked on the Castle. Thus there was a time when the building was called as "Carrig-na-Shane-Saor" i.e. The Rock of John the Mason.

There are various points of view on whom specifically the castle was constructed for. Some say it was McDonogh McCarthy, while others say it was Dermot McOwen. Still the dating of the building cannot be agreed upon. Generally it is believed to be late 16th century early 17th century.

Why was it that he never lived in it? Well, there is some more to that adage: 'A man's home is his castle ..., and that is, 'until the Queen arrives'. The inhabitants near Kanturk Castle were becoming a bit bothered about the stature of this edifice and to the reasons of its being. The Privy Council, which was like close counselors to the Queen of England at the time, was made aware of this and commanded the work on the structure to cease. Thus, 'A man's home is his castle until the queen arrives'.

So agitated the overlord was, it's believed that he shattered the leaded glass and the tiles and flung them into the river.

Down through time after that the ownership changed hands several times. It is now taken care of by An Taisce - The National Trust for Ireland, since July 14th 2000.

Why not go and see Kanturk Castle, Co. Cork, Ireland for yourself. As you walk around imagine living in the 15/1600s with the Mc Donagh McCarthy's at Kanturk Castle.

Other references to Kanturk Castle: An Taisce press release, "The story of Kanturk Castle" by Jean J. McCarthy