Blackrock Castle

Out for a walk with Molly and Sharon today I snapped this shot of Blackrock Castle.

In the late 16th century, the citizens of Cork appealed to Queen Elizabeth I to construct a fort at Blackrock to "repel pirates and other invaders". In or around 1600, a round tower was constructed to safeguard against pirates "carrying away" vessels entering the harbour. Earliest remains today are a circular tower right on the water's edge, 10.5m in diameter, with walls 2.2m thick to withstand cannons.

Blackrock Castle was in the ownership of the City of Cork following a charter of James I to the City in 1608. The castle is later referred to in the Council Book of Cork in 1613 and 1614. In 1722 the old four-storey tower was destroyed by fire and new one built by the citizens, costing £296.

The castle was destroyed by fire in 1827. The rebuilding was completed in 1829. The architects added three additional storeys to the original tower and rebuilt the out-buildings. The new building cost the City of Cork £1,000. This neo-gothic complex of buildings around a courtyard is essentially what remains today.

The building was purchased by Cork Corporation in 2001 and had previously been used at different times as offices, as a restaurant and as a private residence

The castle now houses an observatory the official website is here