Carrigogunnel Castle (in ruins) — Carrigogunnel

Westropp recorded the following details about Carrigogunnel (Carraig Ó gCoinneall/rock of Uí Choinneall) Castle ; 'Granted by Charter to Donchad Cairbreach O'Brien, Prince of Thomond (Ann. Inisf.). The C[astle]. is said to have been occupied by the O'Briens in 1336 (Inq. Exchequer, 1, 1536). It has been supposed to be the C[astle]. of Esclon, but is nowhere identified as such. 1426 Teige O'Brien, "na glenore," ancestor of the O'Briens of Carrigogunnell, died (A.F.M.). 1502 Donough O'Brien, Lord of Pubblebrian and Aherloe, died (A.F.M.). This "strong Rock and House of Defence" of the O'Briens only appears in history in 1536. "When the Parliament adjourned that year to Limerick, Edward Lord Grey, the Deputy marched to a very strong C[astle]. called "Carekogunyel," "in English, Candell Rock," which was surrendered next day by Mat. (Mahon) O'Bryne, on condition that the Government should hold it themselves. "It stands on a high rock, and ... is the key of all the County," with the manor, " which belongs to the King as part of Lord Clerres lands." Grey, despite his pledge, was about to entrust it to Donoth O'Brien, but "by crafty policy and a former letter of my Lord" it was given back to Matthew. On August 22 the Lord Deputy besieged it. The ordnance was "bent" on the gate of the base court, which was soon taken. The guns were then "bent on the dungeon of the great Castle." That night a tower in the upper ward was taken, and at dawn the keep surrendered. As the Deputy had first summoned it on pain of death, he hanged Edm. Cahill and all its defenders after trial in Limerick (Carew MS., i,, pp. 104-5 ; C.S.P.I., 56, 65 ; Inq. Exch., 1). 1539 It was taken from Donough O'Brien for extortion (C.S.P.L). 1541 Mahon O'Brien used to claim a penny for each barrel of wine, and two pence on other barrels imported to Limerick (Inq. Exch.). 1580 Called " Carrig Gunning " C[astle]. (Hardiman Map, 63). 1584 It was held by Donough's son, Brian Duff, who was confirmed in nearly all Pubblebrian (Fi. 4486, 4615). 1615 He died, leaving a son Donat (Inq. Chan., 15b). 1638 Daniel O'Brien held the manor and C[astle]. with other lands. This Donough, or Daniel, was "of Downe," and third cousin of Brien, whose son Donough he succeeded, 1632. (Inq. Chan., 215). He married Margaret, daughter of Ric. Stephenson and his wife, Margaret, daughter of said Brien Duff. The C[astle]. does not seem to have played any part in the wars. In 1651 Capt. Wilson paid Morris King £7 for building a stable there (Hartwell's Accounts, P.R.O.I.). 1655 It had been sold by Donough to Michael Boyle, Archbishop of Dublin (B.D., p. 63), and had a C[astle], bawn, a few thatched huts, and a salmon fishery (C.S., xxxii., p. 29). 1666 Confirmed to Boyle (Act. Sett.). 1691 Held by garrison of 150 men, who surrendered to Sgravenmore. It was blown up in September. 1698 Held by Boyle, then Archbishop of Armagh (Terrier, P.R.O.I.). Fabric - It stands on a lofty plateau of igneous rock; but the buildings are of limestone, and well dressed. The keep is to the north-west, with five stories, and over 50 feet [15.25m] high; its north side was circular, but is now levelled. The south wing has a perfect staircase of sixty-five steps. To the west is a fragment of a later house three stories high, with cross-barred window, fireplace, and high end gable. A range of buildings over 100 feet [30m] long ran from the keep along the cliff to the south-west. It has four rooms with a garderobe and cell called the "Dane's prison." East of this wing is a paved upper court, with turrets; one to the south, with a stair, has been blown nearly off its base. The lower court is rough and craggy, the cliff being walled all around. There is a gateway to the south-east, a comer turret to the south, and an oblong house, two stories high, to the north-east. The walls enclose a little more than an acre. No reliable views have, to our knowledge, been hitherto published. The main buildings seem earlier than 1400. There are poor views in Grose, Bartlett, and Hall'. Castle described by Salter (1993, 104) as following; 'The castle lies on a volcanic crag overlooking the Shannon estuary. A very ruined round tower 10m in diameter in the north corner is 13th century and represents either a keep or a corner tower of a square courtyard castle. The hexagonal room west of it is perhaps 14th century and beyond is a later hall block with two cellars and a passage on the ground floor. East of the round tower is a four storey apartment block of the 16th century when a small inner court was created in front of the ranges. A large heart-shaped outer enclosure about 75m in each direction with a 15th century wall extends to the south and east away from the estuary. There are no flanking towers but the gateway lies in a projection near the rounded south corner and there are the remains of another range of apartments among bushes at the east corner. In 1536 Mahon O’Brien surrendered the castle to Lord Deputy Grey. It later passed to Donough O’Brien, and was eventually sold to Michael Boyle, subsequently Archbishop of Dublin. In 1691 a Jacobite garrison of 150 men surrendered the castle to William III’s forces and shortly afterwards General Ginckell had it blown up'. The castle was described by Salter (2004, 72) as following; 'a major seat of the O'Briens although probably founded by the de Burghs and then held by the earls of Desmond. In 1536 it was surrendered to Lord Deputy Grey after being battered by cannon, and Edmund Cahill and his garrison were all hanged, but the castle was later recovered by the O'Briens. In 1650 it was taken over by Cromwellians under Captain Wilson, who built a stable in the bawn, but in 1655 the castle was sold to Michael Boyle, later Archbishop of Dublin. In 1691 a Jacobite garrison of 150 men surrendered the castle to William Ill's forces and shortly afterwards General Ginckel had it blown up. The heart-shaped outer enclosure extending down the slope and containing a barn on the east side is 15th century, although the triangular projection flanking the entrance with gunloops is a 16th century improvement. The northern wall of the oval inner court 30m by 20m on the highest part of the site is 13th century. Here lay a hall over two cellars. In the 15th century a four storey tower with the lower rooms hexagonal in shape was added east of the hall, and beyond is a block of two storeys containing a suite of private chambers with large windows and fireplaces. Between these two parts are remains of a spiral staircase'. See attached plans of castle taken from Westropp 1908 and Salter 2004 Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 30 October 2020