In the encounter so little expected, Raleigh only saved his life by his somewhat foolhardy daring.
In the account of his doings in Ireland in 1583, Sir Henry Sydney writes: “I was well entertained at the Viscount Barrie’s house, called Barrie’s Court.”
During the Desmond rebellion of 1585, David Lord Barry, whose initials are carved over the mantelpiece of the castle, was associated with the disaffected. He afterwards submitted and sat on the Council of Munster under Sir George Carew. He was present at the relief of Kinsale in 1602, and died at Barry’s Court in 1617. He was the second son of James Barry, and his wife, Ellen Roche, was a daughter of Lord Fermoy.
Writing of him in 1606, Sir John Davys says: “From Youghall we went to Cork, and dined by the way with the Viscount Barrie, who, at his castle at Barriecourt, gave us civil and plentiful entertainment.”
Barryscourt was regranted by James I. to his grandson David, who succeeded him.
The castle seems to have again been consumed by fire after James II.’s visit to Ireland, as it is stated that the velvet bed hung with gold brocade in which he slept at Sir James Cotter’s, of Ballinsperrig, was then at Barryscourt, and so destroyed by the conflagration.
The castle was in possession of the Coppinger family for many years, William Coppinger being the owner in 1861.
A member of the Wakeham family informs me that it was in possession of her ancestors several centuries ago, and that the Lord Barrymore of that day gave the owners, John and William Wakeham, the estates of Springhill and Water-rock instead of it, which their descendants still possess.
Gibson’s “History of Cork.” Carew MSS. Patent and Close Rolls, Chancery, Ireland. State Papers. “Local Names” and “Notes and Queries” in _Journal of Cork Archæological Society_.
“Lords to whom great men submit, Are the O’Carrolls of the plain of Birr.” O’HEERIN.
This fortress was one of the numerous strongholds of the O’Carrolls of Ely O’Carroll. The derivation of the name, formerly Biorra, is doubtful. _Bir_ signifies “water,” _birra_ = “abounding in wells,” or “fountains of water,” _bir_ = “a spit,” _bior_ = “the brink of a river,” and the name may have originated from any of these words.