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Recorded monument · CO112-034006 · Co. Cork

Castle – tower house at Townplots, Co. Cork (CO112-034006)

On the Sites and Monuments Record, marked “Gaol” on the first-edition OS map.

212 planning applications in the last 10 years fall inside this monument’s zone of notification, and 34 An Coimisiún Pleanála cases touch it.

212
in the zone, 10 years
481
in the zone, all years
34
ACP cases in the zone
21
within 100 m, 10 years

Zone of notification 42.86 ha

A zone of notification is the area around a recorded monument where the council normally refers a planning application to the National Monuments Service, which can ask for an archaeological assessment or conditions before permission is granted. Recorded monuments and planning permission: the guide.

Planning applications in the zone of notification 212 applications in the last 10 years

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Showing the newest 100 of 212. The full list is in the free report.

Appeals in the zone of notification 34 with An Coimisiún Pleanála

Building work started in the zone of notification 57 commencement notices

The record CO112-034006

SMR number
CO112-034006
Class
Castle – tower house
Townland
Townplots, Co. Cork
Named on the OS map
Indicated
National record
National Monuments Service record for CO112-034006

On the NW side of Cork Street, on rising ground overlooking the historic town of Kinsale. This 3-storey tower house was built as a town residence by the Fitzgerald family, whose arms are over the door, hence why it is known as 'Desmond Castle' (Healy 1988, 247; Gillen and Hurley 1978, 29). It is one of around 40 'urban tower houses' that survive in Ireland (Heritage Castles of County Cork 2017, 89). It was apparently owned by a William Baines in 1581 (Coleman 1912, 133), but functioned as a magazine in 1601 (Gillen and Hurley ibid) where weapons and gunpowder were stored during the Spanish occupation of the town ahead of the Battle of Kinsale. It was subsequently used as a prison for foreign captives - and is therefore also sometimes known as the 'French Prison' -, many of whom died in the fire of 1747 (O'Sullivan 1905, 10). It was the borough jail in 1791-1846. It was declared a National Monument in 1938 and restored by the OPW. A photograph of the tower in the early 20th century (Coleman 1912, opp. p 133) shows the gable over the 2nd floor facing the street, now replaced by battlements; other recent repairs include the removal of rendering and the replacement of missing mullions as well as the blocking of ground floor windows. The central ground floor door has a pointed arch, and a hood moulding with floriated stops; the door may be an insertion (Harbison 1970 (reprint 1992), 80). The two central 1st floor windows have ogee heads (cusped to left) divided by mullion and transome; similar windows, but with rounded arches, are set at corner angles. There is a single central window at the 2nd floor level, a rectangular light divided by mullion and transome. All lights have hood mouldings overhead. There is a string course between ground and 1st floors. This is a National Monument in State Ownership (no. 360). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. See also 'Heritage Castles of County Cork' (Cork: Heritage Unit of Cork County Council, 2017), available online: https://www.corkcoco.ie/sites/default/files/2022-10/heritage_castles_of_county_cork_2017.pdf. Photographs attached CO112-034006-_01: View of the exterior, front façade of the castle, from E. CO112-034006-_02: Central ground floor doorway, from E. CO112-034006-_03: Interior of the first floor main chamber, from NE. CO112-034006-_04: Exterior E façade, from NE. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009 Date of last revision: 5 July 2023

Other records in the same zone

Buildings of Ireland (NIAH) within 100 m

  • 20851013 Desmond Castle · National rating · 0 m
  • 20851018 Dutch House · Regional rating · 26 m
  • 20851012 San Antonio · Regional rating · 30 m
  • 20851084 Desmond House · Regional rating · 38 m
  • 20851017 Desmond Court · Regional rating · 43 m
  • 20851085 The Old Presbytery · Regional rating · 45 m
  • 20851016 house · Regional rating · 55 m
  • 20851011 Catholic Church of Saint John the Baptist · Regional rating · 63 m
  • 20851086 house · Regional rating · 70 m
  • 20851015 house · Regional rating · 72 m

Source: National Monuments Service, Sites and Monuments Record · fetched 27 Sept 2026

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