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MacCarthy, Earl of Clancar, passed away. Valentine was
a prominent figure in Ireland in the early 17th century,
as one of the the Earls of Kenmare. (see )
Because of its strategic position, the castle suffered
canon damage in 1652 by parliamentary forces. At that
time, Valentia Harbour was being fortified in an effort
to protect Ireland's shores from seafaring forces.
There seems to have been relative peace until the 18th
century when the castle was extended by the addition of
a manor house abutting the north end of the western bawn
wall. Watercolors of Ballycarberry Castle by noted watercolorist
Daniel Grose in the 19th century show the house occupied
by the Lauder Family. But by the 20th century, the castle
had been destroyed. Possibly as part of IRA raids in 1921-1922?
Today, visitors can visit this site and wander around
the ruins.
The original tower house is of rectangular construction,
which is common for this type of keep, and discernible
from the rest of the structure by the narrow arrow slits.
The manor house is made up of several chambers. While
there is no longer a floor separating the ground floor
from the first floor, the vaulted ceilings of that floor
are well defined. Some of the internal stairwells still
exist, though they're not easy to navigate due to the
nature of the house destruction.
The castle was at one time surrounded by a high stone bawn
wall, but only the western portion of the north wall still
exists. And the castle is now covered by creeping grass
and a vining parasitic plant called Hedera Helix. And with
the nature of ruins, there are many nesting birds living
in the cracks, crevices and gaps, which tend to loosen stones. |
Exposed interior
Interior showing vaulted chambers
Hedera Helix covering the castle
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Limited access, short walk up a small hill, grassy pastureland