Castletownshend is a village in County Cork in southwest Ireland. It's a tiny place, just a single street leading down to the harbour, with a population of 167 in 2022.
There's almost nothing left of the castle, but in 1601 there was a naval battle in the inlet of Castlehaven. The Spanish were landing troops at Kinsale but part of their invasion fleet became separated and landed here. They were welcomed ashore as allies, but English warships bombarded their flotilla to smithereens.
Get in
[edit]
Castletownshend is 9 km southwest of Skibbereen on R596.
Local Link Bus 266 runs four times a day from Baltimore via Skibbereen, 30 min in all. Change at Skibbereen for buses from Cork via Clonakilty.
Get around
[edit]You can easily walk to Knockdrum, but you need wheels for sights further out such as Toe Head.
See
[edit]- 1 The village is strung along the steeply descending Main Street. Just when you think it can't get narrower, two trees create a traffic island at the corner with The Mall. Sharp intakes of breath will be needed to pass, especially if you're towing. The street ends at the pier. It's not worth looking for the castle that gave the village its name, it's in bits within the grounds and masonry of Castle Hotel.
- 2 St Barrahane's Church, Church Hill P81 AH51. Anglican church built in 1826 with remarkable stained glass windows, created by Harry Clarke in the 1920s in art nouveau style. In the church porch is a lifeboat oar from Lusitania, torpedoed by a U-boat in 1915. Somerville and Ross, authors of the Irish RM stories, are buried here.
- St Barrahane's RC Church on the lane near the ring fort is a chapel built 1840. It's plain and simple.
- 3 Knockdrum Ring Fort is probably late Iron Age, circa 100 AD, though reconstructed in the 19th century. It's a stone fort some 29 m in diameter with walls up to 2 m high and 3 m thick. Within is a souterrain. It's free to access any time.
- Gurranes Stone Row is across the lane from the fort. They're three standing stones plus one broken, aligned but pointing at rakish angles. A fifth has been removed to a village garden.
- 4 Rineen Forest is at the head of the inlet. There are forest trails, which have been decorated with fairy and leprechaun dwellings, more twee than tree.
- Union Hall: see Skibbereen for this little fishing village to the east.
- 5 Raheen Castle is the stump of a tower house. It's on private land so you can't approach.
- 6 Toe Head is the rugged peninsula southwest of Castletownshend. There's a 19th-century signal tower.
- Lough Hyne: see Skibbereen for this unusual seawater lake to the west.
Do
[edit]- Whale-watching: boats sail year-round subject to weather. They usually sail from Reen pier near Union Hall but may pick up from Castletownshend.
- Sea kayaking: trips start from here, Loch Hyne or Union Hall.
- Golf: the nearest course is in Skibbereen.
Buy
[edit]
- O'Donovans is the village store, near the top of Main Street, open daily 9AM-6PM. There isn't an ATM, the closest is in Skibbereen.
Eat
[edit]- Mary Ann's, Main St P81 A582, ☏ +353 28 36146. Feb-Dec daily noon-9PM. Creative country restaurant and beer garden.
Drink
[edit]- The village pub McCarthy's closed down in 2024.
Sleep
[edit]
- The Castle, Main St P81 NH72, ☏ +353 28 36100. Early 19th-century mansion, and the name's authentic as it uses masonry from the earlier castle. Old-world style and great reviews for comfort and service. Open for B&B Mar-Nov and for self-catering all year. B&B double €200.
- 1 Atlantic House, Coast Rd P81 ND90, ☏ +353 28 36440. Clean friendly B&B.
Connect
[edit]As of August 2025, the village and its approach roads have 4G from Eir and Vodafone but no signal from Three. 5G has not reached this area.
Go next
[edit]- East is gentler country towards Clonakilty and eventually Cork.
- A short way west, Skibbereen and Baltimore have ferries to the islands of Roaringwater Bay.
- Schull is on Mizen Head, and Bantry is a good base for all three of the peninsulas.