Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeCastle - tower house
- Condition (as surveyed)Ruined
Picked out from the Archaeological Survey description below.
Visiting
- Promoted as a visitor attraction by Fáilte Ireland (opening times not confirmed here).Fáilte Ireland · official page
Opening times and fees change: check with the operator before you go.
History and description
Known as Shandon Castle; mentioned in Barry's 1531 grant and named 'Ye L. Barris Castell' on Pacata Hibernia map (c. 1585-1600); in ruins by 1581 but apparently refurbished/rebuilt shortly afterwards (Bradley et al. 1985,96).
Full archaeological record 79 words
Known as Shandon Castle; mentioned in Barry's 1531 grant and named 'Ye L. Barris Castell' on Pacata Hibernia map (c. 1585-1600); in ruins by 1581 but apparently refurbished/rebuilt shortly afterwards (Bradley et al. 1985,96). Hardiman (c. 1601), Philips (1685) and Storey's (c. 1690) maps locate castle near where the Old Butter Market now stands. Maps show castle was of Z-plan, with main rectangular block running E-W and projecting towers at NW and SE ends (ibid). No visible surface trace.
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Updated 14 January 2009 · Based on the Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
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Also recorded nearby
Named sites within 5 km with only a short entry in the Archaeological Survey.
- St Johns ChurchChurch · Cork City · 1.1 km · official record
Visitors' notes
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Around Shandon Castle
Other heritage nearby
- Church of St AnneAncient church · 0.1 km
- Ladys Well GrottoHoly well · 0.4 km
- St Pauls ChurchAncient church · 0.4 km
- St Peter's ChurchAncient church · 0.4 km
- Franciscan AbbeyAbbey or friary · 0.5 km
- Saint Francis WellHoly well · 0.5 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 32 standing stonesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 19 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 15 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 7 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 abbeys & friariesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 round towerArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Ballybrack Woods TrailWalking Trail · 1.2 km · nearest point 4.1 km
- Ballincollig Gunpowder Trails - Military TrailWalking Trail · 6.5 km · nearest point 7.6 km
- Ballincollig Gunpowder Trails - Powdermills TrailWalking Trail · 4.4 km · nearest point 7.9 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- FountainstownBeaches · 18 km · Good Quality (2025)
- WhiteBay Beach Whitegate MidletonBeaches · 18 km
- CorkWalled towns · 0.5 km
Other attractions nearby
- Cathedral of St. Mary & St. AnneHistoric Houses and Castle · 0.2 km
- Pick Your Own Path Walking Tour by Hysterical HistoriesWalking · 0.4 km
- Father Mathew StatueAttraction · 0.5 km
- Tours Guidé de Cork City en FrançaisWalking · 0.6 km
What's on nearby
- Disco Pigs by Enda Walsh2026-11-05 · 0.6 km
- Cork Zine Fest Residency/Festival/Workshops2026-11-05 · 0.6 km · free
- Disco Pigs by Enda Walsh2026-11-06 · 0.6 km
Excavations nearby
- 02E0947 Ballinaspig More 4, County CorkRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 5.5 km
- 02E1033 Ballinaspig More 5, County CorkRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 5.6 km