About Belvelly
A landmark. A home. A responsibility.
At the narrow crossing between Fota and Great Island, Belvelly Castle has watched centuries of life move around Cork Harbour.
The place
Keeper of the crossing
Belvelly’s medieval tower stands beside the stone bridge linking Great Island to the mainland. Its position made it strategically important, then familiar to generations travelling towards Cobh and the harbour beyond.
After years as a roofless ruin, the building was acquired by Garry and Anne Wilson in 2016. They gathered architects, craftspeople, engineers and local knowledge around a demanding restoration, returning the castle to use without disguising the weight of its history.
Follow the full chronologyGarry & Anne Wilson
Custodians of a living place
For the Wilsons, restoration meant more than rescuing a landmark. It meant making an enduring family home and recognising the many hands—past and present—that shaped it.
Belvelly remains a private family residence. Its continuing story is one of stewardship, art and connection with the community of Great Island.
Read the restoration