Site of Castle, Annagh South, Co. Cork
On reclaimed land about 75 metres northeast of the Awbeg River in County Cork, there once stood a castle belonging to the MacJames Barry family.
Site of Castle, Annagh South, Co. Cork
Today, visitors to Annagh South will find no visible traces of this former stronghold, which has completely vanished from the landscape. The castle’s history is pieced together through historical records rather than physical remains, offering a glimpse into the changing fortunes of Irish landowners during the turbulent 17th and 18th centuries.
The castle’s documented history begins in 1629, when it was granted to a man named Percival following the displacement of the MacJames Barrys. This transfer of ownership reflects the broader pattern of land redistribution that occurred throughout Ireland during the plantation period, when properties were systematically transferred from Gaelic Irish families to English and Scottish settlers. The MacJames Barrys, also known in some records as MacCotter, were among the many Irish families who lost their ancestral homes during this era of political upheaval.
By the 18th century, the castle had been demolished, leaving behind only its memory in historical documents. The site now sits on low-lying reclaimed land, suggesting that the area has undergone significant environmental changes since the castle’s heyday. While archaeological surveys have failed to identify any surface features or foundations, the location remains significant as part of Cork’s hidden medieval heritage; a reminder that many of Ireland’s lost castles exist only in archives and local memory.