Monkstown (Irish: Baile an Mhanaigh - 'the town of the monk', formerly anglicised as Ballinvannegh)[1] is a village in County Cork, Ireland, in the old barony of Kerrycurrihy.

It lies 14 kilometres southeast of Cork city on the estuary of the River Lee, facing Great Island and looking onto Monkstown Bay.

[8] Monkstown Castle is a fortified tower house that was constructed around 1636 by Anastasia Archdeacon, reputedly as a surprise gift for her husband John.

[11] As implausible legend has it that, when John Archdeacon's ship entered Monkstown bay, a cannonball was fired at the castle, as it was believed to have been built by an occupying force.

[citation needed] The castle was, over the centuries, owed or occupied by Cromwellian soldier Thomas Plunkett, Archbishop of Armagh Michael Boyle, and the Bernard Shaw family.