Blackrock Castle is a 16th Century castle located about 2km from the heart of Cork City on the banks of the river Lee. In the late 16th Century, the citizens of Cork appealed to Queen Elizabeth 1 to construct a fort at Blackrock to "repel pirates and other invaders" In or around the year 1600, a round tower was constructed to safeguard against pirates "carrying away" vessels enterting the harbour, and earliest remains today are a circular tower right on the water's edge, 10.5m in diameter, with walls 2.2m think to withstand cannon.
Blackrock Castle was in the ownership of the City of Cork following a charter of James I to the City in 1608. The castle is later referred to in the Council Book of Cork in 1613 and 1614.
In 1722 the old four storey tower was destroyed by fire and new one built by the citizens costing £296. Throughout this period the castle was used by the Corporation for banquets and ‘convivial gatherings’, some associated with the custom of ‘throwing the dart’. This ancient custom was held every three years in August, where a dart (an arrow about four feet long) was thrown from a boat by the Mayor accompanied by officers of the Corporation.
Following a banquet, the castle was destroyed by fire in 1827. The rebuilding began at the direction of Mayor Thomas Dunscombe in 1828 and was completed in March 1829. The architects added three additional storeys to the original tower and rebuilt the out-buildings. The new building cost the City of Cork £1,000.
The architects were James and GR Pain, who were responsible for many fine churches and public buildings in Cork, notably the Courthouse in 1835, the interiors of the Catholic Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne in 1828, and St Patrick’s Church in 1836. This neo-gothic complex of buildings around a courtyard is essentially what remains today.
Blackrock Castle now houses Ireland's first fully interactive astronomy centre. The castle houses a team of astronomical researchers from Cork Institute of Technology who have been working on the development of the exhibition and the construction of Ireland’s first robotic observatory the Castle is open and is recommended!
Please check The Blackrock Castle's website for more information
As this Castle is on the riverside, this allows for a nice walk along the riverside
This is My first Cache, Enjoy !!!
Please Do Not Take A Geocoin or Travelbug Unless You Will Log It On The Geocaching Website!! Thank You