Page 20 - O Mahony Journal 2025

The current owner is now retired and, with a heavy heart, has decided to sell.
Viewings of Leamcon Castle will take place early in the new year, with offers in the
region of €400,000 sought for this unique property. ‘We’ve had a huge interest, an
incredible amount of inquiries from Ireland and overseas,’ says Colm.”
Accompanying a few photos, this historical synopsis was included:

“A PIECE OF HISTORY

Leamcon Castle was believed to have been built by Conor Cabaice, a chieftain
of the O’Mahony clan in what was known as Ivahagh [sic], an old name for the
Mizen peninsula, and is one of several castles protecting the peninsula. The name
Leamcon is believed to come from “leim con,” or the hound’s leap in Irish.

The castle was attacked by Sir George Carew at the start of the 1600s, though it
was saved from destruction, and it was later occupied for a while by Sir William
Hull, the notorious vice-admiral of Munster who covertly used Leamcon as a base
for piracy. The O’Mahony clan left for Spain towards the end of the 17 century,
th
and it is thought for 300 years the castle was unoccupied.”
The Yah Cork website described the property thusly:

“If you love nothing better than a complete escape from the rat race, nothing but
seagulls and the crash of the waves on the rocks as background noise, this might
be your dream home.

Leamcon Castle, an ancient structure perched on a rugged island off the western
shores of Roaring Water Bay, is for sale and its previous owner has already made
a solid start on making the place habitable.

Inside there’s a living room, kitchen and two bedrooms as well as a loo and a
shower.

‘In days of old, long after knights were bold and suits were made of tin, The Clan O
Mahony controlled lands from the banks of the River Lee south and west to Three
Castle Head on the southern tip of West Cork.’ explains estate agent Colm Cleary
of James Lyons O’Keeffe, who are handling the sale.

The O Mahony chiefs had castles built on strategic points along the southern coast
to control imports and exports and fishing rights. Leamcon Castle is one such
castle, built by the Chieftain Father of Finin Caol O’Mahony in 1474.

Peace Talks with a certain Captain Harvey in 1603 saved Leamcon Castle from the
‘battering ram’ and after the Battle of Kinsale the owners sailed to a new life in
Spain.

The castle, also known as Black Castle, lay deserted until the mid-1970s when it
was acquired by a recently qualified architect on his return to his native land from
the USA.

‘He had damaged walls structurally repaired and set up a family holiday home
within the castle walls,’ adds Cleary.”

From O Mahony Society friend Finola Finley’s Roaring Water Journal:

“The fields once densely farmed prior to the famine, are now mostly given over
to pasture. The tower house stands far from any road at the west end of a long
narrow peninsula. The island is large, the ruins cover only a small fraction of its
area. The tower house stands towards the island’s east end at its highest point.

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