What is recorded here

Mud and fire built Buncrana Castle for O'Doherty, then English hands broke it and Vaughan rebuilt it with a parapet and a bawn. The castle became a warning, a warehouse, a weapon and a home before the present house replaced it in 1718. Tullyarvan still carries that change: every new wall is also an answer to the last one that fell.

Buncrana Castle (DG029-025001-), described in 1601 as a small castle inhabited by Connor McGarrett O'Doherty, it was repaired early in 1602 by Hugh Boy O'Doherty. After Sir Cahir O'Doherty's revolt in 1608 it was burnt by English forces and may have been repaired soon after. It was granted to Chichester at the time of the Plantation and he leased it to Henry Vaughan who is described in 1611 as having 'buylte at Buncrannagh viz. The castle stronglie rebuylded w'th a parapitt on the topp of it, after the English fashion; . . . lyme burnte and other pr'parations made ready for a bawne aboute the castle' (Hunter 1975, 81). The Vaughan family resided there until the present house (DG029-025002-) was built in 1718 (Davies and Swan 1939, 183-5). The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008

Bawn in Tullyarvan was associated with the O'Doherty family of Inishowen in the early 17th century, including Connor McGarrett O'Doherty and Hugh Boy O'Doherty. It is remembered in the context of Sir Cahir O'Doherty's 1608 revolt against English rule, a significant event in the lead-up to the Flight of the Earls.

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