Barryscourt castle is the 16th century seat of the Barry family. The present castle, with its largely intact bawn wall and corner towers, is a fine example of an Irish tower house in which many defensive features such as a murder hole, crenulations, and stumble steps can be seen.
The castle is built over three levels and incorporates a store on the ground floor, which houses an exhibition entitled Arts in Ireland from the Invasion to the Plantation 1100-1600. The upper levels contain the Main Hall and the Great Hall in both of which are now displayed reproduction furniture and utensils. Visitors can see what life was like for the family when they inhabited the Castle, their sleeping and dining areas, their own private chapel within the building and the various garderobes.
The garden is a newly developed replica of a medieval garden, set out in exactly the same manner as Tower House Gardens would have been designed and maintained in their heyday with an orchard stocked with native fruit trees and a 16th century herb garden surrounded by a wall with corner towers.
The castle is located just 15 minutes drive east from Cork City near the village of Carrigtowhill and can be easily combined with a trip to Fota Wildlife Park. It does not have a dedicated website but can be contacted at
Telephone No: +353 21 488 2218
Email: charlesfort@opw.ie
