Puxley Manor and Dunboy Castle (Beara Peninsula, county Cork, Ireland)
On the shores of a quiet little strait in Beara Peninsula, a 19th century manor and the ruins of a 15th castle stand face to face. A notice here tells the story of Dunboy Castle, besieged by English troops during Nine Years War but you find almost nothing about the manor and I had to search the web to find more informations about it. These are two different buildings, two different times, families and stories, but related by the land they dominate and the dramatic pages of Irish History they embody.
First of all was Dunboy Castle.
The place belonged to Donal Cam O'Sullivan Beare, who joined the irish noblemen fighting against English authority. Unfortunately for him, the letter in which he submitted to the Spanish king (ally of the rebels) was intercepted by the English. The queen was not amused, and sent her troops to attack Dunboy. The castle fall in june 1602, an all the defenders died, killed in combat or executed. The O'Sullivan clan never returned to their castle home, of which not much remains now - a few crumbled walls, half covered by vegetation.
In 18th century, the O'Sullivan's lands were granted to the Puxley family, who bought and developed copper mines in Allihies, about 10 kms from Dunboy. On the hill above Dunboy castle ruins, they built a new mansion - this Puxley manor you first see when you arrive.
Some would say the place was cursed by its former owners. The copper dried up, Henry Puxley's wife died in childbirth and the family left Ireland forever. In 1920, the manor was burnt by IRA, who suspected it to house English troops, and it remained a ruin during all 20th century.
In 1999, local buisnessmen partnered with a luxury hotel group to purchase the property and restore it. It was supposed to became a 6 stars resort but funds dried up and the place was left unfinished in 2010. Abandoned, again, behind ugly metal fences that forbit access.
Here, you'll find the whole story, with old pictures of ruined Puxley Manor and an interesting video of the place before and during restoration.
Last (but not least) interesting thing to know about the place : Daphne du Maurier's Hungry Hill is directly inspired by the Puxley family and manor's history.
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First of all was Dunboy Castle.
The place belonged to Donal Cam O'Sullivan Beare, who joined the irish noblemen fighting against English authority. Unfortunately for him, the letter in which he submitted to the Spanish king (ally of the rebels) was intercepted by the English. The queen was not amused, and sent her troops to attack Dunboy. The castle fall in june 1602, an all the defenders died, killed in combat or executed. The O'Sullivan clan never returned to their castle home, of which not much remains now - a few crumbled walls, half covered by vegetation.
In 18th century, the O'Sullivan's lands were granted to the Puxley family, who bought and developed copper mines in Allihies, about 10 kms from Dunboy. On the hill above Dunboy castle ruins, they built a new mansion - this Puxley manor you first see when you arrive.
Some would say the place was cursed by its former owners. The copper dried up, Henry Puxley's wife died in childbirth and the family left Ireland forever. In 1920, the manor was burnt by IRA, who suspected it to house English troops, and it remained a ruin during all 20th century.
In 1999, local buisnessmen partnered with a luxury hotel group to purchase the property and restore it. It was supposed to became a 6 stars resort but funds dried up and the place was left unfinished in 2010. Abandoned, again, behind ugly metal fences that forbit access.
Here, you'll find the whole story, with old pictures of ruined Puxley Manor and an interesting video of the place before and during restoration.
Last (but not least) interesting thing to know about the place : Daphne du Maurier's Hungry Hill is directly inspired by the Puxley family and manor's history.
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