A remarkable example of castellated Romanticism

The original castle on this site was built around 1200 for the O’Flynn family to guard the strategic crossing over the River Sullane. It was later owned by the Carews, then the MacCarthys who became the Lords of Muskerry. During the rebellion of 1602, the castle was sieged and caught fire. In 1641 during another rebellion, it was burned again. Cromwellian troops under General Ireton burnt it again in 1650 and it soon passed into the ownership of Admiral Sir William Penn, the founder of the state of Pennsylvania. After the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, it passed back to the McCarthys. In 1691, The 4th Earl of Clancarty, Donough MacCarthy had it confiscated yet again for his allegiance to King James II. It later passed to the Hollow Sword Blade Co, Judge Bernard, The Hedges Eyre family, and then to Lord Ardilaun (of the Guinness family). Macroom Castle was burned again for the last time in 1922, following the evacuation of British Auxiliaries from the town, by anti-treaty forces. It dominated the town’s skyline until the 1960s when, in a dangerous condition, it had to be demolished except for the gatehouse and tower.