Castle Salem, Medieval fortress in Rosscarbery, County Cork, Ireland
Castle Salem is a medieval fortress in Rosscarbery, County Cork, originally built as Benduff Castle with thick stone walls and a central keep designed for defense. The structure stands on raised ground and displays the defensive architecture typical of its period.
Catherine Fitzgerald, daughter of the Earl of Desmond, built the original Benduff Castle in 1470. It was later renamed Castle Salem when the Morris family took ownership, marking a shift in the site's purpose and community.
The Morris family made this place a center for Quaker activity in Ireland, with William Penn visiting regularly in the 17th century. That religious community left its mark on how people understand and use the space today.
The property operates as a working farm with bed and breakfast services, allowing visitors to explore the medieval structure up close. A 17th-century farmhouse connects directly to the castle, so you enter through the residence to reach the older ruins.
The farmhouse was built in 1682 and connects directly to the older fortress, making passage through the modern residence the only route into the medieval structure. This unusual layout shows how the property was practically adapted to new ways of living over centuries.
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