Historic maps from 1842 show this location clearly marked, though by the time the 1904 Ordnance Survey was completed, a new road had been constructed straight through the area, effectively erasing the physical remnants of whatever structures once stood here. The 1842 map also reveals an intriguing detail: immediately to the east lay an old fish pond, which likely met the same fate as the court itself when the road builders arrived at the turn of the 20th century.

Local historical sources suggest this may have been a castle belonging to the Barry family, one of the prominent Anglo-Norman families who settled in Cork following the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century. The Barrys, or de Barry as they were originally known, established numerous fortifications throughout County Cork, using them as bases to control their extensive landholdings. The presence of a fish pond nearby supports this theory; such features were common additions to medieval castles and manor houses, providing both a reliable food source and a symbol of wealth and sophistication.

Today, visitors to Brooklodge will find little visible evidence of the Old Court or its associated features. The modern road that destroyed the site over a century ago continues to carry traffic through what was once a medieval stronghold. Yet the careful documentation in historical maps and archaeological inventories ensures that this lost piece of Cork’s heritage remains part of the historical record, a reminder of how Ireland’s landscape has been continuously reshaped by the demands of each successive generation.