Dundanion Castle

Dundanion Castle is a limestone tower house located near the River Lee in Blackrock. The structure displays corbels, multiple fireplaces, and remnants of a staircase that was built within its walls.

The castle was built around 1564 by the Galwey family and appears on the late 16th-century Pacata Hibernia map as 'Galwaies castle'. It represents early colonial settlement patterns in this area of Cork.

The castle structure connects to educational heritage through Captain David Nagle's descendants, who established institutions in the surrounding area.

The castle is partly visible from the old Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway walkway, but it sits on private property. Visitors can view the exterior structure only from public vantage points without entering the grounds.

A slipway beside the castle is traditionally said to mark where William Penn departed for the Americas in the 1680s. This connection links the site to early transatlantic migration history.

GPS coordinates: 51.89740,-8.42040

Latest update: December 9, 2025 12:24