The Castle of Carrignamuck (now generally known as Dripsey Castle) stands on a solid rock near a bend of the river Dripsey, and about a mile from the village of that name. It has a striking appearance in the scenery of that locality, and forms one of a chain of such edifices extending from Blarney to beyond Macroom - all formerly in the hands of the Lords of Muskerry. The meaning of the name Carrignamuck is “Rock of Pigs”, and it is said to have been so-called from a pass, by the river near it, where pigs used to be killed. This castle is in better preservation than other ruined castles in the county, which is doubtless due to the care taken of it by the Colthurst family since it came into their possession.
Externally the castle appears as a rectangular tower or keep, whose base measures 42 feet north to south, and 32 feet east to west, with a rectangular flanking tower or fore building projecting from the east wall at its north end, of dimensions 17 feet north to south, and 10 feet from the east to its junction with the wall of the keep. Within the tower there are the two lowest floors, still more or less complete, and capable of being utilised and, above these, traces of two higher floors, making four in all, in addition to the basement of the castle. On the summit the castle has a ridged roof of slate, placed there by the late Mr Joseph Colthurst, for the preservation of the building.
The Castle of Carrignamuck was erected by Cormac Mac Teige MacCarthy (known as “Cormac Laidir”), Lord of Muskerry (1448-1494) – the same person who built Blarney and Kilcrea Castles, from each of which Carrignamuck is about eight miles distant.
It was the custom for the Lords of Countries to place some relative in each of the outlying castles within the Lordship, who was there as his Lieutenant, and headed the “Rising Out” from the district under his charge when the Lord called out his muster. The Public Records show that while the Lord of Muskerry held Blarney as his residence, his tanist (successor presumptive) was always posted at Carrignamuck, and had a manor and demesne there, which thus followed the fortunes of the superior Lord. Cormac Laidir’s own brother, Eoghan, was stationed at Carrignamuck as tanist. Unfortunately, some quarrel arose at this castle between the two brothers, in the course of which Cormac received a wound from which he died. By reason of this murder of his brother, Eoghan’s claims as tanist were set aside, and he was debarred from succession.
The custom of the tanist residing at Carrignamuck continued during many generations. On the death of Sir Cormac Mac Teige, in 1583, his next brother Callaghan succeeded as Lord of Muskerry; but at the end of the year he made over the Lordship to his nephew, Cormac MacDermod, the next in succession by tanistry, and resumed his residency at Carrignamuck, where he remained as his nephew’s Lieutenant. He continued to keep the lands and manors permanently, and became the founder of the branch called the MacCarthy’s of Carrignamuck. His son Cormac enjoyed the estate, but forfeited it in 1641.
The castle was besieged and captured by the Cromwellian troops about 1650. The besiegers placed their cannon on a low hill – there are still traces of the shelter trench – at the opposite side of the Dripsey river, and made a breach in the east face of the castle in the outer of the double walls on that side, still noticeable, though afterwards built up.
The castle, town and lands of Carrignamuck were put up to sale at Chichester House Dublin on 6th November 1702, and were purchased by George Rogers Esq of Cork. Some years afterwards they passed into the possession of the Colthurst family.
Background Information
Dermod Mor was the ancestor of the Lords of Muskerry and died in 1367. He had three sons – Cormac, who succeeded him, Felimy (ancestor of the MacCarthy’s of Tuonadroman) and Donogh whose descendants are called Carthy (Cartie) of Cluanfada.
Cormac (born 1346) was murdered in Cork by the Barry’s and interred in Gill Abbey in that city in 1374. His son Teige (born 1380) governed Muskerry for 30 Years and died in 1448.
Cormac Laidir (called the “Strong” – he is said to have been a man of great strength and accomplishments) was born in 1411 and succeeded as the 9th Lord of Muskerry. He is famous for having founded, in 1465, the well-known Franciscan Abbey of Kilkrea which was dedicated to St Bridget. He founded the nunnery of Ballyvasadane about 1450. He built five churches at various places and the Castles of Blarney, Kilkrea and Carrignamuck. Of these castles, the most renowned is Blarney, the donjon of which he erected. The site was originally occupied by a hunting-box of Dermod MacCarthy Mor, King of Desmond, which was built of wood. It was rebuilt in 1200 and finally completed, as mentioned above, by Cormac Laidir.
The castle of Carrignamuck, now better known as Dripsey Castle, was usually occupied by the Tanist of Muskerry until Callaghan MacTeige, the 15th Lord, after resigning his position in favour of his nephew Cormac MacDermod, took up his residence there permanently as the founder of the separate line of Carrignamuck.
Cormac Laidir was authorised by Henry VIII in conjunction with Finghin MacCarthy Reagh, Prince of Carbery, to receive the homage of the Irish Chiefs. His end was unfortunate for, in 1494, in some quarrel at the Castle of Carrignamuck between him and his brother Eoghan, then the Tanist, he was wounded by the latter and his sons, and shortly afterwards died of his wounds. The Four Masters record his death as follows: Cormac – that is, the MacCarthy, the son of Teige, son of Cormac Lord of Muskerry, was killed by his brother Eoghan and his (Eoghan’s) sons. He was a man who raised and revered the Church, and was the first founder of the Abbey of Kilkrea; a man who ordained that the Sabbath should be kept holy in his dominions, as it ought to be, and he was succeeded by Eoghan, son of Teige.
