Westropp — Fortified Headlands fy Castles, S. Coast of Minister. Ill 



Eobert Travers down to 1769, and seems to have resided in the castle. 1 In 

 1 786 William Wilson gives a quaint note on the " Antient Castles that were 

 once esteemed proof against the strongest shocks, but which now serve only 

 as a monument of human edifices.'' 2 



Downeen (0. S. 143). Following the road to the pier at the mouth 

 of " the barred harbour of Eosscarbery," the Coroborg, Comborg, and 

 Domborg of the early maps, we find an old laneway running west- 

 ward up the steep bank. Along it one reaches a shallow depression 

 leading down to a beautiful bay and cliffs where, apparently rising 

 on the shore, is the little peel-tower of Downeen. It is attributed 

 to the O'Cowhigs ; but I do not believe they were the builders of the 

 entire group of late castles from Lough Hyne to Clonakilty. The tribe 

 name is found at Ballycouig (1300), Ardcoohig, a large fort behind the 

 Seven Heads (Ardowhigg, 1640), Cluancouigg (1527), and, as we noted, 

 Dunnacowhigg or Dunnycove. They were an offset of the O'Driscolls ; and 

 Smith accredits them with having built the towers of Dundeedy, Dunowen, 

 Dunoure, Duneene, Dunocowig, Dunworley, and Dungorley,* most of which 

 were probably built by the Barrys. If any one be an O'Cowig foundation, 

 it is Downeen ; for down to 1602 it was owned by the O'Driscolls. It is 

 called Donynmore on a Hardiman map of 1590-1610. In June, 1602, 

 Lieut. Saunders wrote to tell the President of Munster that he had taken a 

 large boat belonging to Teg, brother of Connor O'Driscoll of the Downings, 

 wherein was slain their brother Dary. After two clays he " took the strong 

 place of the Downings, which is seated on the sea disjoined from the land so 

 as there is no coming unto it but over a little drawbridge of wood resembling 

 the seat of Dunluce in Ylster." 4 The following month Sir George Carew 

 ordered the demolition of the castles taken by Capt. Soger Harvey, " strongly 

 seated upon rocks and necks of lands . . . Downegall and the Downings all 

 are close to the sea." 5 In 1611 David Eoche of Licklas held the lands, and 

 in 1640 Derniot Carty held the Castle, but by 1655 Downnige in Eoss- 

 carbery parish was held by the Bishop of Boss. 6 It is mentioned by 



1 His will, Prerogative Series, Dublin, 1770, compare settlement of Randall Westropp 

 and Peniel Becher, 1737, Dublin, Registry of Deeds, Book 92, p. 350, and Smith's 

 "History of Cork" (ed. 1750), vol. i, pp. 276-9. There is a curious account of the 

 pilchard fishery in Inq. Exchr., No. 54, in 1620, in an inquiry as to conduct of 

 Edward Hunt, customer of Cork Harbour. 



2 "Postchaise Companion," p. 230. 



3 Smith's " History of Cork" (1750), vol. i, pp. 223, 257. 



4 "Pacata Hibernia" (ed. 1819), bk. iii, ch. ix. 

 s State Papers, Ireland, 1601-3. 



6 " Book of Distribution," p. 221. 



