Mallow Castle occupies a complex of historic structures spanning nearly 900 years of Irish history in the town of Mallow, County Cork. The present ruins date to the late 16th century when Sir Thomas Norreys, Lord-President of Munster, built the castle between 1585 and 1599 on a site originally fortified by King John of England in 1185. The castle passed to the Jephson family through marriage in 1607 and experienced significant conflict during the 17th century, including capture by Lord Inchiquin during the English Civil War era. Burnt by Jacobites in 1689, Mallow Castle remained in the Jephson family for 400 years. Today, the ruins sit within 33 acres of gardens and parkland managed by Cork County Council, preserving its complex architectural heritage.
