Lohort Castle

Lohort Castle, County Cork
Photo © Mike Searle, 24 June 2009

Also known as Castlelohort, this spectacular 90 foot round-cornered five storey tower can be found on the Castlelohort Demesne near Cecilstown. After being taken by the Irish, it was recaptured in 1650 by a Cromwellian force, who described the castle as having immense strength, a presumed reference to its resistance to bombardment with cannon during the engagement. With walls 10 feet thick at the base, tapering to 6 feet, its no wonder the castle shows little sign of this incident. The stepped gable and chimney stacks date from 1876. The machicolated parapet runs unbroken around the top storey apart for a short section shown here on the east side. In the 1740's its then owner the Earl of Egmont renovated the castle as a residence for his agent, and it remained in use until burnt by the IRA in 1922.