Cat Castle — Killybegs

Cat Castle: 'Cat Castle' or 'Kits Castle' is undoubtedly a contraction of 'St. Catherine's Castle', the patron saint of Killybegs. About 1355, Bishop Mclvlonagle is recorded as having constructed a manor-house (DG097-015001-) at Killybegs (Conaghan [1974], 21). It possible that Cat Castle is on the site of this house. In 1608, Sir Josias Bodley recommended that a gun platform be placed here at 'a castle of the Bishop of Derries' (Buckley 1910, 61) and in 1622 it is recorded that 'the Bishop of Raphoe, in right of his bishopric, possesseth the old castle of Calebegg' (Treadwell 1953-5, 515). This site might be identified as the 'little old castle decayed standing up on ye west side of ye harboure of Killbegs' mentioned in the Civil Survey, 1654-6, though this could equally refer to the castle (DG097-015006-) on Castle Point (Simmington 1937, 79). Although only the 'foundations' survived when Pococke noted it in 1752 (1752, 68), sufficient remained in 1847 to enable Fagan to record that it 'measures on the inside 17 1/3 by 14 1/6 feet, walls 6-7ft. thick and now 3 to about 14 ft. height inside, but on the outside 10 to c. 20 ft. height, but much disfigured . . . . inside and near base of its NW gable stands ruins of a recess 3 ft. wide by 2 ft. depth and alike height. This gable and SW side retain the greatest altitude. All other parts are nearly demolished, in fact it is altogether a mutilated ruin' (Fagan Bk. 19, 10-11). Situated on a prominent hillock on the S side of Killybegs Harbour, the site is protected by steep slopes particularly on the N and E. Very little remains of Cat Castle except one small NE corner section of wall c. 3m high, and adjoining grass-covered foundations which delimit the top of the hillock. 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