This is an attractive town built where the rivers Allow and Dalua meet, before joining the River Blackwater. The interesting bridge in the town dates from 1760. The town celebrates its focus through the tranquil town park running alongside the River with Kanturk Castle a short distance from the town centre.
Outside the town is the huge shell of a fortified house, Kanturk Castle or MacDonagh’s Court, i.e. MacDonagh MacCarthy, the local Irish chief. The story is that when the English Privy Council heard of the elaborate structure, they decided ‘it was much too large for a subject’ and had the work stopped. MacCarthy, in a rage, scattered the blue glass tiles which were to roof it. So there it stands, almost five centuries later, still unfinished but firm. It is now the property of An Taisce, the National Trust of Ireland.
