Local History - Innishannon.
Dundaniel Castle.
The remains of this castle stands beside the main road between Bandon and Innishannon on the angle of the confluence of the Brinny and Bandon rivers.It was built by Barry Oge about 1460.The name "Dundaniel" may have come from: (a)"Dun Da abhainn" meaning the fortress of the two rivers. .(b)"the fortress of two backs" that is having its back to or protected by its two rivers.
About the year 1612 the East Indian Company established a depot for smelting iron ore on the castle grounds .This ore was shipped from England.It is also believed that they built ships here.
Under the supression of the great rebellion of 1641 Dundaniel Castle, which was at the time belonged to Daniel Mc Carthy Reagh, was granted to Richard,Earl of Cork.
Local legend has it that this castle was once the scene of a competition between two local men for the hand of the daughter of the castle.The winner of the lady's hand had to be the first to climb the castle wall .Of course the man she loved never made it to the top and drowned in the river. A poem called "Eileen Barry Oge"was written about this romantic tale.
