The Controversial Colour of History

One of the first things visitors notice about Kilcoe is its striking terracotta colour — a hue that sets it apart from Ireland’s many grey stone castles. To some, it’s jarring. To others, it’s magnificent. But as Irons and historians have pointed out, the colour is not eccentric or modern — it’s authentic.

In medieval times, all castles were rendered and coloured. The notion that they were bare stone fortresses is a romantic illusion created by centuries of weathering. Without a lime render, the porous stone would have leaked and crumbled. The render — a mix of lime, sand, animal fats, blood, hair, flour, shells, and even ground stone — acted as both insulation and decoration.

Over time, these renders washed away, leaving the naked stone walls we associate with medieval ruins. Irons’ decision to apply a warm lime render was historically grounded, not whimsical. As he once remarked, “People think it’s strange because they’re not used to seeing castles as they really were.”

In fact, Ireland’s history is filled with colour-coded castles — Caisleán Dearg (Red Castle) in Castlederg, Caisleán Buí (Yellow Castle) in Meath, and many others whose names hint at the hues they once bore. The colours were born of local materials and tradition, not vanity.

A Fortress Reborn

Irons’ restoration of Kilcoe Castle was a six-year labour of love. He worked with Irish craftsmen and artisans, relying on traditional materials and methods. The goal was not to create a luxury residence, but to resurrect the spirit of the place — to let Kilcoe breathe again as it once had.

The actor, famous for his roles in The Mission, Reversal of Fortune, and The Lion King, traded Hollywood glamour for lime mortar and scaffolding. The restoration respected every historical nuance — from medieval stairwells and battlements to the handmade windows that align with the original tower’s rhythm.

When the work was complete, Kilcoe was once again alive. A roaring hearth, wooden beams, tapestries, and candlelight filled the space where only gulls and ivy had lived for centuries. Irons and Cusack made the castle their home — a private refuge where the actor could retreat, play the fiddle, and sail along the coast with his dog, Smudge.

Isolation and Identity

Kilcoe’s isolation remains part of its charm. The castle sits on a small island, accessible only via a stone causeway built in 1978. Before that, it was surrounded entirely by water — a natural moat that once kept enemies (and later tourists) at bay.

Today, visitors can only admire Kilcoe from the mainland. It’s not open to the public, and Irons is protective of that privacy. Yet, even from a distance, the castle’s terracotta glow stands out like a beacon — a conversation between past and present, Ireland and England, ruin and renewal.

A Living Piece of Heritage

In restoring Kilcoe, Jeremy Irons didn’t just rebuild a structure — he reconnected a story. He revived the memory of the McCarthy clan, honoured Ireland’s medieval craftsmanship, and brought attention to a forgotten truth: castles were once full of colour, life, and sound.

The project also reawakened local pride. Craftsmen from West Cork rediscovered traditional methods, stonemasonry techniques, and plaster recipes long thought lost. Kilcoe’s rebirth became more than a private endeavour — it became a symbol of heritage revival in Ireland.

More Than a Home

When asked why he took on such a monumental project, Irons once replied, “I didn’t buy it to own it. I bought it to protect it.”

Those words capture the essence of Kilcoe’s story. For him, the castle is not a trophy but a trust — a commitment to history, to place, and to authenticity.

Today, Kilcoe Castle is one of Ireland’s few fully inhabited medieval castles, standing as proof that with dedication and respect for tradition, even ruins can be reborn.

As the evening light hits its warm, red walls and the tide laps gently against the island, Kilcoe seems less like a restored monument and more like a living soul. It’s as if the centuries themselves pause to admire what one man’s vision — and Ireland’s enduring spirit — have brought back from the edge of oblivion.