The castle dominated the urban landscape for over three centuries before meeting its demise shortly after 1770. What makes this structure particularly fascinating from an engineering perspective is its ingenious foundation system; the entire building rested on a floating oak raft, secured in place by vertical timbers, a clever solution to Cork’s marshy ground conditions that allowed the castle to literally float above the unstable soil beneath.

Archaeological excavations conducted by Twohig in 1974 revealed the impressive scale of the structure, with internal dimensions measuring 8.4 metres in length and 5.6 metres in width. The walls, a staggering 4.4 metres thick, survived to first floor level, testament to the substantial nature of medieval defensive architecture. These massive walls would have provided both security and status, marking the Skiddy family as significant players in Cork’s merchant society during a period when the city was establishing itself as a major trading port.

Though the castle itself has long vanished from Cork’s streetscape, a remarkable piece of its history survives in plain sight. A decorative mantelpiece, believed to have originated from Skiddy’s Castle, now adorns the front wall above the third floor window at 13 North Main Street. This architectural fragment features intricate carved details including a crescent arch in high relief, stylised ivy leaves, rope mouldings, and quatrefoils, along with the inscription “N.G. 1597 G.S.”, suggesting later modifications or additions to the castle during the Tudor period. This surviving element serves as a tangible link to Cork’s medieval past, when merchant castles dotted the cityscape and families like the Skiddys wielded considerable influence over the city’s affairs.