25.03.2023, 10:15 A.M.

Castlemartyr formerly belonged to the Fitzgeralds of Imokilly and later was the seat of the Boyles, Earls of Shannon. Nestled amid a wooded demesne with a fine lake, the buildings consist of a fifteenth century castle, the ruins of a seventeenth century house and the early eighteenth century house. The main house is two storey, with quite a long elevation. The entrance front has a fine Tuscan order Portico. The house has one of the finest rooms in the country, a double-cube with fine Rococo plasterwork in the style of Robert West, but attributed to the La Francini.

The adjoining village has some seventeenth century buildings, but consists mainly of eighteenth century houses in various forms of preservation. Nearby is the fine eighteenth century Church of Ireland church and Market House. There is a modest Catholic Church and other assorted buildings.
Saint Anne’s Church (Church of Ireland) is an elegant building set just off the main street of the town. Built in 1731, it has an attractive south elevation and a finely moulded eaves cornice. The brightly lit interior has impressive timber panelling, plasterwork and a gallery.

Dromdiah House was built in 1831-2 for Roger Green Davis and designed by William Deane Butler and John Edward Jones. On an elevated site and visible from the Youghal to Killeagh road, it is a prominent landmark that lay in ruins for many years. It is currently undergoing a sensitive restoration by our host Malcom Sparrow. The house has a very fine Greek Revival portico of baseless fluted Doric columns.

Itinerary:

10.15 am Meet at the front door of Castlemartyr House (hotel), Castlemartyr Co. Cork for registration.

10.30 am View the entrance front, double cube room, the castle and remains of the seventeenth century house.

11.15am Walk to the nearby Castlemartyr Village via the sham-Gothick (original) entrance.

11.30am View the fine early eighteenth century houses en route to the Church of Ireland church.

11.45pm Visit to St. Anne's Church (Church of Ireland).

1.00pm Lunch at the Five Star Castlemartyr Resort.

2.30pm Leave for Killeagh.

3.00pm Tour of Dromdiah House, Killeagh courtesy of Malcolm Sparrow.

Tickets cost €65 (members), €75 (non-members), including lunch and must be purchased in advance by completing the booking form found here

Please note that due to lunch arrangements, all bookings must be received by Wednesday 22nd March.

Terms & Conditions: Participation at the discretion of the committee. No bookings accepted without payment. Booking form to be completed in full including membership number and expiry date. Late booking fees may apply. Programme subject to change without notice.

Images courtesy of Buildings of Ireland database, except the image of the double cube room, photo credit: Kevin Hurley

Please mail the booking form to Kevin Hurley, Hazeldene, I Amberley, Grange, Douglas, Cork T12 NTN2 (Tel: 087-9266826 or email: corkigs@gmail.com. Please make your cheque payable to the Irish Georgian Society, Cork Chapter.