Belvelly Castle is an Irish castle located north of Cobh in County Cork. Built in the 14th century, it is precisely located next to the small village of Belvelly, opposite the only road bridge linking the island of Fota to Great Island (on which the town of Cobh is situated). The building is magnificent and one of the region’s must-see spots.
The castle was built by the Anglo-Norman Hodnett family in the 14th century. It’s a 5-storey square tower built on the riverbank. At the time, the tower was used to monitor the comings and goings of ships approaching Cobh.
Opposite is Fota Island, famous for its zoo.
Historically speaking, the château has been in the hands of many successive families. It was taken by the De la Roch and De Barra families. Some sources suggest that Walter Raleigh also occupied the castle in the 16th century, before it was reoccupied by the De Barra family, and used by Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery to manage troops during the Irish Confederate Wars in the mid-17th century.
Unfortunately, the castle fell into ruin over the centuries, and was then abandoned. It was nevertheless occupied and somewhat modified by the Irish army during the Second World War (1939-1945). It served as a defensive surveillance post.
Today, Belvelly Castle has been bought and renovated by a private owner. The work was completed in 2018 and the result is stunning. The building is now used as a private dwelling, making it impossible to visit it from the inside.
However, don’t be too disappointed: the site can still be admired from the outside. Don’t hesitate to visit: the view from the outside alone is enough to counterbalance the frustration!
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