Blackwater Castle

Blackwater Castle, also known as Castle Widenham, lies in the village of Castletownroche, in County Cork, in Ireland.

Blackwater Castle dates back to the late 12th century when it was built on an inland promontory above the River Awbeg. It was built on the site of a former Bronze or Iron Age fort, called Dun Cruadha. Through marriage the castle passed into the hands of the Roches, Lords of Fermoy, in the 13th century. It remained in the hands of the Roche family until 1666 when it passed to Colonel John Widenham.

The castle then became known as Castle Widenham. It stayed in the hands of Widenham's descendants until the 1960s.

Blackwater Castle is private property and is rented out as a venue for weddings, parties and holidays. So it can only be visited as a guest of those events. A very nice castle.

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