Official tourism website for Cork, Ireland

Kanturk is a partially built castle in north Cork and the story behind the failure to finish it is fascinating in itself.

MacDonagh MacCarthy, the Lord of Duhallow built Kanturk castle around the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries.

The Privy Council in England became concerned about the news of its construction when word reached them and ordered it be stopped without delay.

It is said that perhaps the Battle of Kinsale was part of the reason for their unease as it the nearly-successful Spanish invasion shocked the English.

Others believe that it may be due to issues around finance that it was ordered to be stopped.

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