Law Courts and Parliaments have at different times been held in the castle.
In 1689 King James made a State entry, and stayed one night there after the battle of the Boyne.
In 1783 St. Patrick’s Hall was built. In 1784 the Viceregal Lodge was bought, and since then the State apartments of the castle have only been used during the Dublin season.
O’Donovan, “Annals of the Four Masters.” Calendar of Irish State Papers in England. Wright, “Historical Guide to Dublin.” Harris, “History of Dublin.” Marquis of Kildare, “Earls of Kildare.” Brewer, “Beauties of Ireland.” M’Gee, “History of Ireland.” Joyce, “History of Ireland.” Gilbert, “Castle of Dublin” (_University Magazine_). Haverty, “Ireland.” Collins, “Sydney State Letters.”
This castle is situated on the western margin of the Barony of Kinnelea, in the townland of Skevanish, County Cork. It stands on the left bank of the Bandon River, in the angle formed by the influx of the Brinny. It is half a mile above Innishannon, and three miles below Bandon.
The present name seems, from ancient documents, to be a corruption of Dundanier, or a word of the same phonetic sound. Different suggestions have been put forward as to the probable meaning of the original name, including “Dane’s Fort,” or “the fort of the foreigner,” and “the fort of the two rivers.” This latter would be a very appropriate appellation, its south and west sides being protected by the converging streams.
Nothing now remains of the castle save the keep, which measures 32 feet east and west, and 44 feet north and south.
The entrance is in a ruined state on the east side, and between it and the river on the south the masonry has almost wholly disappeared. The walls on the north and west are 6 feet thick, while on the south and east they measure 8 feet, although these sides have otherwise apparently less provision for defence.
Mr. Herbert Gillman gives a most interesting suggestion regarding this fact. He says that in all probability a winding stair was situated in the thickness of the walls at the south-east angle, the building of which has now disappeared, and that this stairway terminated at the hall or chief apartment of the castle usually occupied by the castellan. Upon the north-east angle of the tower is now the remains of a ruined turret, and Mr. Gillman thinks this is most likely to have been the protection for the egress to the _allur_ or battlemented walk, which was reached from the main chamber by a second stairway in this part of the wall. By such an arrangement no watchman could leave his post of duty without passing through the room in question, and thus a greater protection would be secured.