Cloughoughter Castle
Encyclopedia
Cloughoughter Castle is a ruined circular castle, situated on a small island in Lough Oughter
, 4 kilometres east of the town of Killeshandra
in County Cavan
, Ireland
.
, specifically in the part that would later be subdivided into East Breifne
, roughly corresponding to County Cavan
. Prior to the construction of the castle, the spot may have been a crannóg
. In the latter part of the 12th century, it was under the control of the O'Rourke
s, but it seems to have come into the hands of the Anglo-Norman William Gorm de Lacy
after the Normans wrest control of some of the territory from that ruling clan. While the exact date construction began is unknown, it is estimated to have started in the first quarter of the 13th century. Architectural elements date the lower two storeys of cloughoughter to this time.
In 1233, the O'Reilly
clan took possession of the area and completed the castle. They retained it for centuries in the midst of their ongoing conflicts with the O'Rourkes and with members of their own clan. It was there that Philip O'Reilly was imprisoned in the 1360s with "no allowance save a sheaf of oats for day and night and a cup of water, so that he was compelled to drink his own urine."
. Culme did not dwell in the castle, but built a new residence upon the nearby lake shore. Philip O'Reilly
, then an MP for Cavan and leader of the rebels during the Irish Rebellion of 1641
seized control of the castle, retaining it as an island fortification for a further 12 years. During this final phase of its active existence, it was used as a prison. In this capacity Culme was imprisoned having failed to defend it as he had been charged, also, notably the Anglican Bishop of Kilmore
, William Bedell
was also held there for a period of weeks and died soon afterwards in February of 1642, evidently due to inadequate shelter from the cold winter. The castle was the last remaining rebel stronghold, fell to Cromwellian forces in March 1653, but not easily. Due to its island location, invading troops set up their cannons on a rise, at some considerable distance, in the townland of Innishconnell. The castle's walls were breached by cannon shot, remain to this day.
Left in ruins, the castle became a frequent subject of art in the 18th and 19th centuries. Its visual impact was described in a travelogue
published The Dublin University Magazine in 1852:
Conservation efforts were begun on the castle in 1987.
Lough Oughter
Lough Oughter is a lake, or complex of lakes, in County Cavan covering approximately 8931 hectares. It is on the River Erne, and forms the southern part of the Lough Erne complex...
, 4 kilometres east of the town of Killeshandra
Killeshandra
Killeshandra or Killashandra is a village in County Cavan, Ireland, located 20 km northwest of Cavan town and is central to County Cavan's lakeland and geopark region, set in the unique Erne catchment environment of rivers, lakes, wetlands and woodland...
in County Cavan
County Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
.
History
The castle is located in the historic Kingdom of BreifneKingdom of Breifne
The Kingdom of Breifne or Bréifne was the traditional territory for an early Irish tribal group known as the Uí Briúin Bréifne...
, specifically in the part that would later be subdivided into East Breifne
East Breifne
East Breifne was an historic kingdom of Ireland roughly corresponding to County Cavan....
, roughly corresponding to County Cavan
County Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
. Prior to the construction of the castle, the spot may have been a crannóg
Crannog
A crannog is typically a partially or entirely artificial island, usually built in lakes, rivers and estuarine waters of Scotland and Ireland. Crannogs were used as dwellings over five millennia from the European Neolithic Period, to as late as the 17th/early 18th century although in Scotland,...
. In the latter part of the 12th century, it was under the control of the O'Rourke
O'Rourke
The O'Rourkes were the historic rulers of Breifne.O'Rourke may refer to several different people:-People:* Andrew O'Rourke, judge and politician from New York State* Beto O'Rourke , American entrepreneur and civic leader...
s, but it seems to have come into the hands of the Anglo-Norman William Gorm de Lacy
De Lacy
de Lacy is the surname of an old Norman noble family originating from Lassy . The first records are about Hugh de Lacy . Descendent of Hugh de Lacy left Normandy and travelled to England along with William the Conqueror. Walter and Ilbert de Lacy fought in the battle of Hastings...
after the Normans wrest control of some of the territory from that ruling clan. While the exact date construction began is unknown, it is estimated to have started in the first quarter of the 13th century. Architectural elements date the lower two storeys of cloughoughter to this time.
In 1233, the O'Reilly
O'Reilly
O'Reilly is the Anglicised form of the Gaelic Ó Raghallaigh. It is also the patronymic form of the Irish name Reilly . It is commonly found throughout Ireland, with the greatest concentration of the surname found in County Cavan followed by Longford, Meath, Westmeath, Fermanagh and Monaghan, and...
clan took possession of the area and completed the castle. They retained it for centuries in the midst of their ongoing conflicts with the O'Rourkes and with members of their own clan. It was there that Philip O'Reilly was imprisoned in the 1360s with "no allowance save a sheaf of oats for day and night and a cup of water, so that he was compelled to drink his own urine."
After the Plantations
Possession of Cloughoughter was granted to servitor Hugh Culme during the Plantation of UlsterPlantation of Ulster
The Plantation of Ulster was the organised colonisation of Ulster—a province of Ireland—by people from Great Britain. Private plantation by wealthy landowners began in 1606, while official plantation controlled by King James I of England and VI of Scotland began in 1609...
. Culme did not dwell in the castle, but built a new residence upon the nearby lake shore. Philip O'Reilly
Philip O'Reilly
Colonel Philip O’Reilly was a Member of Parliament for County Cavan, Ireland in the Irish Parliament from 1639 to 1641.-Ancestry:His Gaelic name was Phillip mac Aodh mac Sean mac Aodh Conallach O’Raghallaigh and by the English he was named Philip McHugh McShane O'Rely. His father, grandfather and...
, then an MP for Cavan and leader of the rebels during the Irish Rebellion of 1641
Irish Rebellion of 1641
The Irish Rebellion of 1641 began as an attempted coup d'état by Irish Catholic gentry, who tried to seize control of the English administration in Ireland to force concessions for the Catholics living under English rule...
seized control of the castle, retaining it as an island fortification for a further 12 years. During this final phase of its active existence, it was used as a prison. In this capacity Culme was imprisoned having failed to defend it as he had been charged, also, notably the Anglican Bishop of Kilmore
Bishop of Kilmore
The Bishop of Kilmore is an episcopal title which takes its name after the parish of Kilmore in County Cavan, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics.-History:...
, William Bedell
William Bedell
William Bedell was an Anglican churchman.-Early life:He was born at Black Notley in Essex, and educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was a pupil of William Perkins. He became a fellow of Emmanuel in 1593, and took orders...
was also held there for a period of weeks and died soon afterwards in February of 1642, evidently due to inadequate shelter from the cold winter. The castle was the last remaining rebel stronghold, fell to Cromwellian forces in March 1653, but not easily. Due to its island location, invading troops set up their cannons on a rise, at some considerable distance, in the townland of Innishconnell. The castle's walls were breached by cannon shot, remain to this day.
Left in ruins, the castle became a frequent subject of art in the 18th and 19th centuries. Its visual impact was described in a travelogue
Travelogue
Travelogue is the second full-length studio album released by the British synthpop band The Human League, released in May 1980 before the band achieved any degree of commercial success....
published The Dublin University Magazine in 1852:
It stands on a small island, scarce three hundred feet in diameter, just sufficient to contain the castle and a small margin of rock around it. The island stands in very deep water; the shores are a mile distant, wild, yet thickly wooded. The castle is a beautiful ruin, round, massive, hoary, save where mantled with rich Irish ivy. The walls are immensely thick, with embrasures and coved windows, round which "ruin greenly dwells." It is unlike most Irish castles, which are square.
Conservation efforts were begun on the castle in 1987.