As a child I used to visit this area with my father on a weekly basis as he owned the castle and some of the nearby land. We dreamt of being the Lord and Lady and arriving up the river on our ship. Unfortunately it was a ruin then but we fondly played hide and seek among the castle walls and up to the waterfall and beyond. Sadly the route to the viewing area is now deemed unsafe due to fallen trees but the waterfall is accessible. When the sun is shining and the tide is high the reeds on the Bandon river glow golden.
The path is well defined but as with all riverside walks, be careful
Shippool Castle
Shippool Castle is situated on the north bank of the Bandon River, on the road from Innishannon to Kinsale, and about three miles from the former. Just beside it in the river, there is deep hole, known as the "Castle Hole", but formerly known as "Poll na Long", and from which the place gets the name "Shippool".
Tradition has it that when the Danes invaded Ireland, a Danish fleet sailed up the Bandon and anchored here. They plundered the surrounding districts, and spent their time persecuting and cursing the Christians. One night a great storm arose and their ships were dashed against each other and sunk with all on board. Hence the name Poll na Long.
The castle which is in ruins, was built by the Roches, who received the "town of Innishannon" from Henry V. In 1642 it was taken by Capt Adderly. The Roche Arms were said to have been inscribed over one of the fireplaces. It is also said to have been looted by Spanish sailors who sailed up the river.
Duchas.ie
Overlooking the River Bandon about four miles from the town of Kinsale stands the ruins of Shippool castle. Only one small wall now remains standing. This castle belonged to the Herricks who lived there in 1765. The Herricks were well known Priest hunters. They used the castle for hanging Catholics and Priests if they could catch them. There was a tree growing in the centre of the lawn up to a couple of years ago, and it is said that this tree was used for hanging Priests and Catholics. This tree never blossomed afterwards and any catholics around who took a branch from it for firewood could not stand the house from the number of sparks that came out. The following story is told about the Herricks.
There was a Priest passing one day on a sick call. The Herricks knew he was to pass their way, as two catholics friends of theirs informed on him. The Herricks were prepared to shoot the Priest as soon as he came in sight. But a miracle happened for when the Priest was going by he could not be seen by them. The two catholics saw him however and they shouted out. "There he is." The Herricks failed to see him as he went on his way. But the Priest cursed the seven generations of both families. It is quite plain that not many of both families survived to the present day.
Old Herrick possessed a great portion of the country side round Dunderrow.
The remains of this old man were laid to rest in a little grave yard not far from Shippool Castle, an old disused burial ground, called Teampall Mhuire, The Temple of Mary. The people do not frequent the place much.
A descendant of the Herricks lived in Kinsale until a few years ago.