|
The O'Callaghans had three main castles. These were located at Clonmeen, Dromaneen and Dromore, all to the west of Mallow,
Co. Cork and close to the banks of the Blackwater river.
Clonmeen appears to be the main castle of the three, being built about 1590. It is located on a rock on the southern
bank of the Blackwater, about one mile east on the village of Banteer. It consisted of a high tower enclosed by curtain walls
which had a tower at each of the four corners. It was here that the Papal Nuncio, Rinunicci was entertained in 1642. The
castle was destroyed in 1652 during the Confederate wars following the battle of Knocknaclashy which took place nearby. The
ruins today consist only of the enclosing with part of two of the corner towers.
Dromaneen castle was built in about 1610 and also stands on a rock on the southern bank of the Blackwater, about 3 miles
west of Mallow. It was built more in the style of a Tudor fortified manor house than the older style of Clonmeen castle.
Legend has it that the gold of the O'Callaghan clan is hidden in watery caves beneath the castles foundation. The castle
was occupied by the English in 1690 and was apparently damaged at that time. Fairly extensive ruins survive to the present
day.
Very little is known of Dromore castle and no ruins exist today. It is referred to in manuscripts of 1580 and therefore
would appear to have been older than Clonmeen and Dromaneen. It is referred to in the Book of Survey & Distribution of
1657 , which detailed the property forfeited in the Confederate wars but it is not mentioned in 1686 in a grant of these lands
by James II.
|
