Kilcoe

#194 Kilcoe Castle
Ballydehob, West Cork, Ireland
About 1450 and later
This is NOT an official Lego site

Kilcoe castle was built somewhere between 1430 and 1450 by the Dermot MacCarthy clan, descendents of the Celtic inhabitation of Ballydehob and a cadet branch of the Eoghanacht MacCarthy clan of Kilbrittan. The original rectangular tower was situated on a tiny island at the head of Roaringwater Bay in southern Munster. The 4-story tower was later embellished by an approximately 20 feet [6M] square 6-story addition residential addition. The tower was surrounded by a complex bawn, presumably also a later addition and virtually filling the little island. While control of trade and fishing may have been a goal of the early owners, the castle became prominent as the last castle of the MacCarthys of West Cork to fall to the England forces following the Battle of Kinsale. After the English forces under Captain Hervey, cousin of the Lord President of Munster, failed to conquer Kilcoe in early 1602, Captain George Flower besieged the castle in late 1602 - and after protracted negotiations, Kilcoe (under Conor O'Driscoll) surrendered in February 1603.

I have no information about the circumstances of the castle after 1603, but writers have suggested the generally decent preservation of the keep in the late twentieth century leads one to believe the castle, or at least the tower, was occupied well after the early seventeenth century. In 1966 James Caverly, the owner of the surrounding lands, registered the castle - which was bought in 1972 by Edward Samuel, who built a bridge connecting the island to the mainland, but did nothing to repair the ruin. In 1998 husband and wife actors Jeremy Irons and Sinéad Cusack purchased the castle - and spent the next three years restoring the tower - and then the remaining bawn and buildings. Despite initial surprise about the original "peach" hue of the tower as restored, Kilcoe is now a treasure of Irish heritage and a wonderful residence once again!

Photos of the Lego Model under construction in January 2025 This is a unique project. My building table is completely covered with a huge model of Doornenburg Castle (The Netherlands) [which see] so I've begun construction of Kilcoe with a 25 square inch cutout from the small island upon which it was built, resting on a card table. Included is the tower, with some surrounding courtyard and curtain walls. It will be transferred to the big table when it is free, and the rest of island built around it.

On January 10 the 25" (80 stud) square is laid out on a 34" card table and masonite sheet.	Later that day the tower is outlined. Parts to complete Doornenburg arrive.	On January 15 construction resumes, with the castle and island at about their final elevation above sea level.


The steps from the gatehouse and subbasement of the castle are...	...better defined by the next day. The island will be fine tuned later.	By January 17 the basement of the castle, with its single door, is defined...	...as is the small east courtyard.	The stable is the only outbuilding which I feel likely to have dated back to the 15th century.


Later on the 18th the entire first floor is built...	...with six slit windows in what is apparently main floor dormitory areas for invited guests.	And the battlements are added to the curtain wall.	On Sunday, January 19 another floor is added to the emerging tower!


January 20 is "third floor" day. The story with the best windows, from the NNE.	And from the ENE, showing a bit more of the east face.	The view from the SE.	And the SSW.	And finally the NW. Onward and upward.


January 21 is devoted to completion of the 4th story...	...which includes the parapet walk around the Main Block.	And the Main Block is now ready to be roofed!	Dormers and roof are added the next day - then the Outer Ward at Doornenburg is removed.


On January 29, the tower is finally moved carefully onto the building table.	The island is outlined in 'old' dark gray Lego plates...	...and the castle itself in 'old' light gray Lego elements.	Now were ready to begin the construction of the rest of Kilcoe Castle's environs!


January 31 sees the begin- ning of construction of the gatehouse and courtyard...	...with completion on February 1.	Next the lower courtyard is defined and under-structure...	...with numerous beams ready to support the actual courtyard...	...which is in place on February 3!	And by Feb. 5 the entire curtain wall has been constructed. On to fine-tuning the landscape.


South Elevation	East Elevation	North Elevation	Cross-section looking east


January 30 is spent filling out the tidal coastline...	...on the little island. The view from the southwest.	And from the northwest.	And finally the ENE.

Photos of the Lego Model built in January - February, 2025

The	Later	At the	After

but	So	unti	Build


Early on January 18 work turns to the curtain wall.	Plus a bit of work on the tower...	...with the addition of the main entrance door on the first floor.


Elevation	Elevation	Elevation