Bawn in Eleven Ballyboes

Greencastle (DG022-003-): Greencastle was the principal Norman castle in NW Ulster and was built by the 'Red' Earl of Ulster, Richard de Burgo, in 1305. The castle, then known as Northburgh or Newcastle, was captured by the Scots in 1316 during the invasion of Ireland by Edward Bruce. On the defeat of Bruce two years later, the castle reverted to the Earl and on his death passed to his grandson, the 'Brown' Earl. When he was murdered in 1333, the de Burgo influence in Ireland collapsed. The lordship of Inishowen finally passed to the O'Donnells in the early 15th century, and their dependants, the O'Dohertys, established themselves at Greencastle. It was considerably damaged in 1555 as a result of an internecine war among the O'Donnells, but was still wardable in 1586. Granted to Chichester, the Lord Deputy, at the time of the Plantation, it is recorded in 1611 that 'There was one hundred men's worke 20 wicks bestowede in cleeringe the ruynes of Green Castle'. Chichester maintained a small garrison there and in 1623, in a report on the repair of forts, Greencastle was described as 'fitter for a ward than Culmore'. It subsequently went into decline and was abandoned and allowed to decay (Waterman 1958, 74-5; Hunter 1975, 82). Situated on the W shore of Lough Foyle, the site encompasses a massive platform of cropping rock whose cliffs and fissured slopes on the SE and S afforded protection on these sides. The upper ward (DG022-003001-) of the castle with its massive NE polygonal tower was accommodated to this outcrop and immediately to the W is a sunken lower court and vaulted chambers; the gatehouse proper projects from the latter on the W. The castle is typically English in style and character, and in plan can be compared with the great Edwardian castle at Caernarvon in Wales. The three-storey gatehouse comprised twin polygonal gate-towers, the walls of which rise from a battered base; only the S tower is intact and is fitted with loops set in polygonal embrasures. 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