Ship-pool Castle (Poolnalong Castle)

Ship-pool Castle, County Cork
Photo © Mike Searle, 23 August 2007

The ruins of this rectangular towerhouse stand on the East bank of the Bandon river. It was built by the Roche Clan in 1543, and is reputed to be haunted.

LEIGHMONEY, Leoffoney, or Liffany, a parish, in the union of Kinsale, barony of Kinnalea, county of Cork, and province of Munster, and on the road from Kinsale to Bandon; containing 596 inhabitants. This parish is bounded on the south by the river Bandon, on the margin of which are the remains of Shippool Castle (formerly called Poolnalong), built in 1496 by the Roche family, and, from its vicinity to Kinsale, twice attacked by the Spaniards in 16O1, but vigorously defended by the garrison, who repulsed the assailants with considerable loss. In 1642 the castle was taken by the garrison of Bandon for the king, and by this means a communication was kept open with Kinsale and the eastern parts of the county, which very greatly assisted the royal cause; it was occupied by the father of the present proprietor till 1794. The remains consist of one lofty square tower, apparently battered by artillery, and cannon balls have been found in the vicinity.

The parish comprises 2716 statute acres: the land is generally poor, and chiefly under tillage; about 200 acres are waste, and there is no bog. The system of agriculture is slowly improving under the spirited example of Capt. Herrick; and there are quarries of good freestone, particularly at Shippool, the produce of which is worked into pillars and used for building. Near the castle are some singular rocks of the greenstone formation. The river Bandon is navigable for small vessels up to Colliers-Quay, opposite to the parish; and great quantities of sea-sand are landed for manure, at four small quays at this place. The only seat of importance is Shippool, a handsome residence in a wooded demesne sloping gradually to the water's edge. There are some extensive hanging-woods, through which the new road from Kinsale to Bandon passes, disclosing some of the richest scenery in the county. On the river are several salmon-weirs, and great quantities of fish are taken. The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Cork, and in the patronage of the Bishop; the tithe rent-charge is but £82. 14., and there is neither glebe nor glebe-house. The church is in ruins, and divine service is performed in the parochial schoolroom, which has been licensed for that purpose. In the Roman Catholic divisions the parish forms part of the union of Innishannon. The parochial school also serves for the parish of Dunderrow ; a house and five acres of land were given to it by Captain Herrick. On an eminence near the ivy-dad ruins of the church are the remains of an extensive fortress, called Leoffoney Castle, which was occupied by the Spaniards in 1601, and by the royalists in 1641. There are several chalybeate springs, but they are not much used.

Reference

A Topographical Dictionary Ireland by Samuel Lewis, 1847