Ightermurragh Castle

Republic of Ireland, Ireland

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Ightermurragh Castle is a well-preserved 17th century fortified house located near Ladysbridge in County Cork, on the south bank of the Womanagh River in eastern Ireland. It was built around 1641 to 1642 by Edmund Supple and Margaret FitzGerald and is considered one of the last castles constructed during Ireland's tower-house building tradition. The castle has a distinctive cruciform design, rises to several storeys in height, and originally combined domestic comfort with defensive features such as gun loops and a protected entrance. Despite suffering damage during the conflicts of the 1640s, the structure was later restored and remained inhabited into the 18th century. Local history and legends are closely tied to the castle, including stories about its name's Gaelic origins and a dramatic 18th century robbery involving one of its occupants. Today, although roofless and unoccupied, Ightermurragh Castle remains an impressive ruin and an important example of Ireland's late medieval and early modern architectural heritage.