Mc Swynes Castle — Rathmullan AND Ballyboe

The prescise location of the Gaelic medieval castle of Rathmullan has not been identified. This castle was the site of a medieval Gaelic castle belonging to the Mac Swynes which was built close to the Carmelite priory (DG037-007003-) at Rathmullan. This castle appears to have been located close to the shoreline of the sea as described in the Annals of the Four Masters and not at the site of the Carmelite Priory as suggested by the OS designation on the 6-inch map. In the early part of the seventeenth century the priory (DG037-007003-) was converted into a fortified house and bawn by Andrew Knox, Bishop of Raphoe. There appears to have been two medieval castles at Rathmullan one that was built before the sixteenth century which in 1516 was demolished or collapsed for in this year the Annals of the Four Masters record that 'The castle of Mac Sweeny Fanad, i.e. Rath Maelain [Rathmullan] fell' (O'Donovan 1856, vol 5, 1335). It is interesting to note that in the same year the Carmelite priory of Rathmullan was founded and may have been built with stone from the collpased castle which gave rise to the association between Mac Swynes castle and the Carmelite Priory. The medieval castle was rebuilt shortly after its collapse in 1516 and was located near the shoreline for in 1587 the Annals of the Four Masters recorded that 'at the old harbour of Swilly, opposite Rathmullan, a castle [was] erected on the margin of the sea, some time before, by Mac Sweeny Fanad' (O'Donovan 1856, vol. 5, 1859). It is not clear if the new castle was built on the site of the previous castle or whether it was buit at a new location near to the harbour. MacSwyne's Castle at Rathmullan is marked on the OS 6-inch maps as being adjacent to the Priory. A number of vaults W of the Priory were believed to have been part of the Castle. Swan (1955, 62), however, believes that a rocky crag on the shore of Lough Swilly is the correct location. This site is now built over. During the seventeenth century plantation of Donegal, Andrew Knox, Lord Bishop of Raphoe 'purchased lands [and] voluntarily built adjoining to the old castle and church of Ramullen (now repaired) standing on Lough Swilly, a good house of lime and stone, slated in some parts 3 stories and in others 2 and a half stories high, with flankers of lime and stone wherein he, his wife and family inhabit. Before this house there is an inner and outer court of lime and stone' (Treadwell 1954-5, 42). In the nineteenth century Rathmullan castle was described as 'Close to it are the ruins of a priory of carmelite friars (DG037-007003-), and a castle adjoining, formerly occupied by the M'Swyne Faugh, the possessor of Fanait. The eastern part, used as a ch.[church] until a late period, exhibits considerable traces of pointed Gothic architecture. Over the E. window there still remains a figure of St. Patrick. The architecture of the remainder of the building is of Elizabethan age, a great part of it having been rebuilt by Bishop Knox, of the diocese of Raphoe, in 1618, on obtaining possession of the manor of Rathmullan from Turlogh Oge M'Swyne' (Anon 1866, 94) Anon 1866 Murray's Handbook for Travellers in Ireland. J. Murray London. 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. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision : 08 September 2010