No visible traces remain of the castle that once stood here, reportedly built by the MacCarthys, one of the most powerful Gaelic families in Munster. The only hint of its former existence comes from historical maps; the 1842 Ordnance Survey six-inch map marks this spot as ‘site of’, a tantalising reminder of what once was.

The MacCarthys controlled vast swathes of Cork from the 12th century onwards, building a network of castles and tower houses to maintain their grip on power. This particular fortification at Knockantota South would have been part of that defensive system, though its exact history remains frustratingly elusive. Archaeological surveys conducted by Healy in 1988 confirmed the complete absence of any surface features, suggesting the castle was either thoroughly demolished or its stones repurposed for other buildings in the area, a common fate for many medieval structures.

Today, the site offers a peculiar kind of historical experience; standing in an unremarkable field knowing that centuries ago, this was a place of strategic importance, where lords held court and soldiers kept watch. It’s a reminder that Ireland’s landscape is layered with invisible history, where even the most ordinary looking patches of countryside can hide extraordinary stories from the past.