Start at the Castle Tavern and walk up the hill (south) until the yellow waymarkers indicates a turn right into the woods.
Follow the waymarkers along the winding tracks through the woods which eventually exit into a farm. Cross through the farm and a field, down a lovely country lane, until you reach the road to Killavullen. This section is waymarked. Turn right and return to the Castle Tavern, past the Mass Rock on your left, along the road overlooking the Blackwater River.
The site of Convamore House may be seen across the river, including its quays and boat house. The history attached to this area is enthralling.
Convamore House lies about 1km west of Ballylhooly village. Convamore is the Irish for the 'great plain of the hounds.' Another authority states that it means, 'the great drowning of the hounds'. The first Convamore House was built by a Colonel Bayley, who married a daughter of Lord Doneraile (Doneraile also being a neighbouring estate 7.4).
The 1st Earl of Listowel, William, purchased the place from the O'Callaghan's of Cork and rebuilt the house.
It is important to note that the land was bought and not planted; as was the case in many areas.
Lewis (1837) writes: 'Convamore, the seat of Viscount Ennismore is a handsome modern mansion, beautifully situated in a fine demesne stretching along the banks of the Blackwater and commanding an interesting view of the windings of that river through rich masses of wood to the picturesque ruins of the ancient castle of Ballyhooly, situated on a rocky eminence over the Blackwater and with the present Church and the ruins of the former, both closely adjoining'.
According to local tradition, the country surrounding Ballyhooly was once covered with orchards.
In the demesne of Convamore is a spring impregnated with carbonate of lime. An elderly member of the Ballyhooly community recalls that the 4th Earl of Listowel sent his footman each morning to fetch water from this spring.
Whether the earl bathed in this water or drank some of the water, no one knows!
Close to the house are the ruins of an old castle of the Fitzgeralds. This was part of Spenser's estate in this country and a very old oak still throws its branches over the river; this is called 'Spenser's Oak', under which he is said to have written part of 'The Fairy Queen', which mentions the Blackwater.
Convamore was one of many houses reduced to ashes in North Cork during the 1919 to 1923 period.
The once magnificent view of the river has been obscured by bushes and trees. Most of the fine stables still stand and the boat pier, now disused, is still in good condition.
The once fine avenues to Convamore are closed up and one gateway now serves as the entrance to an old gate lodge.
The only regular visitors to Convamore these days are fishermen and curious historians. Very few notice the majestic blue cedar standing in the field.
It was planted there in halcyon days in 1885 during the visit of the Prince Edward, who later became King Edward VII of England.