Lohort Castle
Lohort Castle is situated on the Castlelohort Demesne near Cecilstown in County Cork.
This historic castle is an impressive five storey fortified tower with rounded corners, standing over 80 feet tall. The massive walls are 10 feet thick at the base, narrowing to six feet. Around the top storey there is a machicolated parapet that runs unbroken apart for a short section on the eastern side. There used to be a deep moat around the castle with a drawbridge. The castle grounds cover more than 100 acres.
Lohort Castle was built around 1496 by Donogh Og McDonagh McCarthy in 1496. The castle was taken by the Irish forces during the Civil War. One of the bloodiest battles of the English Civil War took place on the grounds of Lohort Castle in in 1647 when over 4,500 men were killed in battle. Lohort was bombarded by Oliver Cromwell's troops in 1650 and captured, but the castle withstood the cannon fire due to the immense strength of its 10 foot thick walls.
The castle as it now stands was rebuilt around 1750 by Sir John Percival, the Earl Of Egmont, and the Percivals lived there until the20th century when it was burned down by the IRA in 1922. Some of the fireplaces from nearby Kanturk Castle appear to have been relocated to Lohort Castle - this was probably done when Lohort Castle was restored in the 18th century.