Belvelly Castle De Barrà

Belvelly Castle De Barrà is a 14th or 15th-century tower house located in the small village of Belvelly, County Cork, positioned opposite the only road bridge connecting Fota Island to Great Island and the town of Cobh. Originally built by the Anglo-Norman Hodnett family, it was later captured by the De la Roch and De Barra families. The castle came into the possession of Sir Walter Raleigh in 1581, who described it as broken down and commissioned its restoration. A five-storey square tower built on the riverbank, it was originally designed to monitor ships approaching Cobh. Though not open for interior tours, its striking exterior and surrounding grounds offer exploration opportunities, making it a picturesque landmark overlooking the waterway.