Historic ruins in Bantry Bay

Ancient Ruins and Historical Sites

This collection explores the archaeological heritage of the Beara Peninsula and Bantry Bay, spanning from the Bronze Age to the 16th century. It features well-preserved tower houses like Carriganass and Dunboy, alongside prehistoric megalithic structures including the Ardgroom Stone Circle and various wedge graves. The list also highlights industrial ruins at the Bearhaven Copper Mines and mythological landmarks like the Hag of Beara, providing a comprehensive look at the defensive, spiritual, and industrial history of West Cork.

Ancient Ruins and Historical Sites — Map

Philip Halling / CC BY-SA 2.0

A

Carriganass Castle

Carriganass Castle is a 16th-century tower house in County Cork. It is situated about 8 kilometres north-east of Bantry, close to the…

El Gringo / CC BY 2.5

B

Dunboy Castle

Dunboy Castle is a ruined 15th-century castle on the Beara Peninsula in south-west Ireland near the town of Castletownbere.

Peter Clarke / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Castle Donovan

Castle Donovan or Castledonovan or O'Donovan's Castle refer to the remains of an Irish tower house or túrtheach, in a valley near…

D

Bearhaven Copper Mines

These 19th-century industrial ruins include engine houses and shafts that were once part of a major copper mining operation employing over 1,500 people.

Heather Myers / CC-BY-SA

E

Ardgroom Stone Circle

A Bronze Age megalithic site consisting of nine upright stones overlooking the Kenmare River. The circle is notable for its pointed stones and a single outlying stone.

F

Stonecircle

A prehistoric megalithic site, likely part of the Cashelkeelty complex, featuring stone alignments dating back to the Bronze Age on the slopes of the Caha Mountains.

G

Knockacarrin Cairn

A prehistoric burial mound located on a ridge, representing the early ritual landscapes of the West Cork region.

El Gringo / CC BY 2.5

H

Dunboy Castle

Dunboy Castle is a ruined 15th-century castle on the Beara Peninsula in south-west Ireland near the town of Castletownbere.

I

wegde grave

A prehistoric burial chamber, also known as a wedge tomb, dating from the late Neolithic or early Bronze Age.

Andrew Wood / CC BY-SA 2.0

J

Kilcrohane Fort

The remains of a stone ringfort, a circular defensive settlement typical of the early medieval period on the Sheep's Head Peninsula.

K

O'Mahony Castle

A list of archaeological sites in County Cork, Ireland.

L

Carriganass Castle

A 16th-century tower house built by the O'Sullivan Beare clan. It served as a strategic stronghold during the Elizabethan wars.

Towel401 / CC BY-SA 4.0

M

Betelgeuse Incident

A site related to the 1979 Whiddy Island disaster, marking the ruins and history of the French oil tanker explosion.

N

Stone Row

A prehistoric alignment of standing stones dating from the Bronze Age, situated near Ahakista on the Sheep's Head Peninsula.

O

Hag of Beara

A large rock formation associated with the Cailleach, an ancient deity in Irish mythology, serving as a significant site of local folklore.

Other Lists

Bantry Bay's Essential Wonders Peaks and Panoramic Views Lakes and Waterfalls Sacred Sites and Places of Worship