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Standing just to the south of the Argideen river, northeast of Clonakilty, the castle was built in the late C16 or early C17 by a branch of the MacCarthy Reaghs, descendants of Donal Gott. It stood as a guard tower over the only pass between the town of Bandon and the southwest. In 1611 by all accounts, it passed by descent to Dermot MacCarthy who made a grave error of judgement when he handed over to Confederate forces, a man named Burrowes who had sought refuge at the castle. Burrowes was subsequently summarily hanged in Kinvarrig wood. When the war ended, Dermot MacCarthy was arrested, brought before a Cromwellian court at Bandon, and was found guilty of murder. Despite his family connections, he in turn was hanged at Cork.

W4244 : Castles of Munster: Ballinoroher, Co. Cork (2)