Belvelly Castle, Medieval tower house in County Cork, Ireland
Belvelly Castle is a four-story stone structure at the entrance of Great Island, overlooking the strategic crossing point to Cobh through narrow windows. The building displays the typical form of an Irish tower house with compact, vertical arrangement of rooms.
The fortress was built in the 14th century by the Hodnett family and later changed hands multiple times between the De Barry family and Walter Raleigh. These changes show the political and economic importance of the location across several centuries.
The castle shows the architectural legacy of Anglo-Norman settlers in Ireland with traditional defensive features of medieval Irish tower houses. These elements still shape the appearance of the fortress today and tell the story of a particular period in Irish building traditions.
After renovation work completed in 2018, the castle now serves as a private residence and is not open to the public. It is best to view the exterior from the water or look for views from nearby public areas.
During World War II, the Irish Army added horizontal gun slits to the castle walls for defensive purposes. These visible changes show how important the location was for the country's defense, even in later times.
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