Inchincurka Wedge Tomb

The superb looking wedge tomb of Inchincurka is one of the lesser known wedge tombs to be found in County Cork.

This small but compact tomb is a wonderful example of a Wedge Tomb.

The tomb is aligned East - West and is about 4 meters in length.
The height of the tomb is 1.5 meters and is close to 2 meters in width.  

The gallery of the tomb is very overgrown so difficult to see any detail.

Access - The site can be seen from the R585 and is best entered via a lane way to the left of the tomb.
I visited this tomb in early summer 2018 and as can be seen from the images it is somewhat overgrown. However I have seen many older images with it in a far worse condition.

Kinneigh Round Tower

One of only two round towers to be found in County Cork is Kinneigh Round Tower.

The round tower is built on a large rocky outcrop, and has a unique 5 meter high hexagonal base.

The tower rises to a height of 20 meters and is round from the hexagonal section up.

The doorway is about 4 meters above the ground and faces North East.

Kinneigh Round Tower is estimated to have been built sometime between 900 and 1050.

To facilitate a bell an upper section was added in the mid 19th century.

The original  monastery in the area is said to have been founded by St Mocholmog in the year 619.

The site of the monastery was located 0.8 km to the West of the tower.

Access - The tower is located on the grounds of St Bartholomew's Church Of Ireland, in Kinneigh.

Parking can be found beside the graveyard.  This leaves you a short walk to the very striking tower.

Ballyvackey Stone Circle

Ballyvackey Stone Circle is located in a plain low flat open pasture.

There are just seven stones left here from a probable original nine stones, although some believe there may have been as many as thirteen stones in the circle.

The remaining circles stones vary in height from 0.6m to 1.6 meter.

The circle is aligned ENE-WSW and the diameter of the circle 8.5 meters.   

There are much bigger and more famous sites located close by.
Despite being overgrown (I tried my best to stamp the growth down around the stones) don't be put off seeking this site as it will be well worth you time.
The circle even with the missing stones and somewhat plain location still has a nice presence about it.

Access - The site can be spotted from the main road. (R599)
It will be possible to park close to the circle (once one is careful).
Good footwear will be needed as the area close to the circle is quite marshy. 

Carrigaphooca Castle

Carrigaphooca Castle is a ruined five storey rectangular tower house situated on a steep rocky outcrop overlooking the Sullane River near Macroom in Co Cork.
The building is basic, one with a single room on each of it's five levels.
There are no fireplaces or chimneys. 

The visually striking ruin (from the outside) is dated sometime between 1436 and 1451.

The castle was built by Dermot Mor McCarthy brother of Cormac Láidir who built Blarney Castle.

The MacCarthys of Carrigaphooca sided with the Crown in 1602 and their stronghold was as a result attacked by Donal Cam O'Sullivan Beare.
After a long and difficult siege the huge wooden door of the castle was burned down.
O'Sullivan Beare was said to have taken back a chest of Spanish gold he had presented to the MacCarthys some months earlier for their support against the English.

The castle was latterly owned by the MacCarthys of Drishane until it was forfeited in 1690.

Restoration work was carried out on the castle in 1970 by the OPW who installed an inner staircase.

Access - The castle is on farm land and can have cattle grazing at times, so please seek permission from the farm between the main road (N22) and the castle.

Carrigaphooca Castle is claimed to be one of the most haunted castles in Ireland.


 

Reanascreena Stone Circle

The superb stone circle of Reanascreena had been on my wish list of sites to visit ever since seeing images of the circle on the great Megalithic Ireland web site.

The Circle has twelve stones which are all over one meter in height.
The two portal stones (image 2 on the right) are slightly higher than the circles other stones.
The circle is aligned ENE-WSW and the circle has a diameter of just over 9 meters.

A feature I did not see on the day of my visit was the quartz stone in the middle of the circle. 

The circle has fencing quite close to the stones (which makes getting close ups of the stones impossible) this may be to protect the stones as Horses are sometimes kept in the sites field.

Reanascreena is truly a special site.
My visit was a bit rushed due to work but I would hope to make a return visit sometime in the future.

The site was excavated from 1959-69 by Fahy.

Access - The circle is not visible from the road.
I spoke to a farmer who gave me the directions.
Enter the first field via the gate to the right of the bungalow, walk up the field to the top of the hill and the circle is in the next field on your left.   

Knocknaneirk SW Stone Circle

When you arrive at Knocknaneirk SW Stone Circle, the site looks to have a real wow factor about it.
Sadly as get closer you will see the circle is missing a number of stones on the south side.  

From the stones that remain it looks like the circle would have had a diameter close to 15 meters.

The stones that survive vary between 1.3 meters and 1.5 meters in height.

The area this circle is located in has many other sites close by, but this circle is still worth seeking out as the remaining stones have a nice character about them.

Access - The circle can be seen from the road.
Parking can be found beside the wooden gate which leads into the site.

In other images I have seen of this site it would appear that cattle are sometimes kept here.

Kilmaclenine Wedge Tomb

The beautifully preserved tomb of Kilmaclenine can be found in its own somewhat bumpy enclosure.

The fact that the tomb sits surrounded by these mini hills has probably helped preserve and protect this fine site.

The tomb has a giant capstone which is 2 meters in width 3 meters in length and is 0.3 meters in thickness.
The two large side stones and the back stone are 1.5 meters in height, it is possible to stand inside the tomb for someone under 1.8 meters.

Access -
The tomb can be found up a lane way just beside a modern bungalow,  parking is available beside the site. On the day of my visit I had the pleasure of two chatty dogs who were very keen to pose beside the tomb.

Cloyne Round Tower

The site at Cloynes dates back to the 6th Century when a monastery was founded by
St Colman Mac Lenine.

The tower which is said to be 10th Century is composed of a dark purplish sandstone and rises to a height of just over 30 meters.
The doorway is close to 3.5 meters from the base, which is built on a offset but this was not visible on my visit (image 4). 
The tower has a total of 9 windows 7 of which are lintelled, the windows on the 3rd and 5th floor are both angled.

The tower was struck by lightning in 1749 but the cap was gone by then and the battlements you see today were in place.

In recent years it was possible to climb to the top of the tower, but this is no longer allowed due to maintenance and insurance issues.   

Access -
Travelling on the N25 Cork to Midleton road you will see a turn for Cloyne R629, this bring you directly onto the appropriately named Church St.

The tower is opposite St Colman's Church of Ireland Cathedral.
Parking can be found close to the tower quite easy.   

Coulagh Stone Circle

The Stone Circle of Coulagh is being kind to the site a bit of a mess.
Only two stone remain standing (both leaning quite strongly).

Because of the other stones in close proximity it is pretty hard to picture the circle in it's original form.
Is it a five stone recumbent circle or maybe the circle was even bigger, could the two standing stones be portal stones to the original circle.

I wish that I could give you a better idea of this site but probably we are best going with Jack Roberts who is pretty sure the site is a true 5 stone circle.

The site is worth a visit, but the area has many other stunning sites to offer like Ardgroom.

Access -  The R575 will bring you to the turn off for the site, the lane way is very narrow and the stones will be on your left two or so fields up. 

 


    

Carrigadrohid Castle

This very striking ruin is built on a rocky outcrop and has the river Lee flowing by.

Carrigadrohid is said (disputed by some) to have been built in the 15th century by the MacCarthys of Muskerry.

The castle is a three story tower.
It has a second story entrance via the bridge on the eastern wall of the ruin.

The Castle was besieged by Parliamentary forces in 1650.
Bishop MacEgan (Bishop of Ross) who had been captured by Cromwell's General was promised his freedom if he could persuade the garrison of Carrigadrohid Castle to surrender.
The Bishop is said to have urged the garrison to fight till the end, and told the men "to hold out to the last for religion and Country".
The Bishop was hanged from a nearby tree with the reigns of his own horse in view of the castle.

Carrigadrohid later passed into the ownership of the Bowen family who occupied it until it was abandoned in the mid 18th Century.

Access - Parking can be found close to the castle and if the weather is nicer than on my visit there is a picnic area right beside the river bank.

An Seisear Stone Row / Alignment

This superb sites name translates to mean "The Six" but as you can see one of these giants has fallen. The five that remain are nothing short of breath taking. The sheer size and shape of these stones is just stunning.

The alignment is over 11 meters in length.
The 2 biggest stones are located at each end and both are close to the 3 meter mark in height.
The inner stones are an equally impressive 2 meters in height.

The setting for this site is slightly spoiled by the closeness of a plantation of trees quite close to the stones.

Access - The alignment can be seen from the Bweeng/Coachford road (R619).
Parking can be found close to the entrance gate into the field.
From the road the site looks quite small but as you walk up the field and near the stones you begin to realise how impressive and special this alignment is.