Garret Island — Knockfennell

On a rocky island known as Garret Island (Geroid Island) in Lough Gur. The island is 150m NW of the Knockadoon peninsula where extensive archaeological excavations have uncovered significant Neolithic and Bronze Age archaeological monuments (Cleary 2018). The castle site is built on the highest point on the island and is surrounded by prehistoric settlement sites (LI032-016/017----) which were excavated abutting the N and SE side of the circular castle enclosure. A causeway (LI032-021----) from the S end of the island leads SE to the adjacent shore on the Knockadoon Peninsula. Prehistoric settlement remains have also been identified on the rocky foreshore around the island (LI032-019----). Garret Island is depicted on the 1840 ed. OSi 6-inch map as small circular shaped island (ext. diam. c. 30m) similar to a small crannóg. The surface of the island was recorded 1m above the lake level in 1840 (76.8m OD). The island is later depicted as a significantly larger area (170m N-S; 65m E-W) on the 1897 ed. OSi 25-inch map as a result of drainage lowering the lake level by 1.5m, the lake level today remains at c. 75m OD. The castle is first recorded as ‘Desmond Castle (in ruins)’ on the 1897 ed. OSi 1897 25-inch map and is later annotated ‘Geroid Castle’ on the OSi Cassini 6-inch map. The OSi maps do not provide a measured survey of a recognisable castle structure, although two small rectangular building (presumably domestic building) are illustrated at the centre of the island, these maybe the ‘sunken structures’ referred to by Liversage (1958, 67). Westropp (1906-7, 181) recorded the following details about this castle site; 'the lake, traces of a building, said to be a C[astle]. of Earl Garrod, whose ghost is doomed to ride over the lake once in seven years, till the silver horseshoes are worn away. Doubtful site'. Harknes (1869, 395) recorded the following details about this islands and its castle; 'Around Garrets Island, which is near the centre of the lake, and particularly towards its southern side, are to seen many upright piles, especially when the surface of the lake is low. Garret Island itself seems to be an artificial production, for the surface of it, which is only slightly elevated above that of the lake, is made up of broken fragments of rock, and these fragments are likewise seen extending from its shores into tho water of the lake. Previous to the lowering of the lake's surface, which took place about thirty years ago [c. 1839], a large part of this island was under water; the only portion at that time visible was occupied by the ruins of a small castle or tower, which had probably been built by one of the Earls of Desmond. It is doubtful whether even this portion is not an artificial production; but in consequence of the rubbish from the fallen walls of this building, the surface which supports it cannot be seen, and there are circumstances connected with it which lead to the conclusion that it is not a natural surface. At the time when the level of the lake was lowered, and the area of the island increased, the land laid bare was found to be covered with an enormous accumulation of bones. More than a hundred cart-loads of these bones were removed and sold to the dealers in such articles'. According to Lenihan (1866, 725) the island was named after 'Garret Fitzgerald, the rebel Earl of Desmond to Queen Elizabeth, is the guardian spirit of this lake. He is held there by enchantment, which will cease when the silver shoes of his horse, whom he is seen riding over the surface of the lake once every seven years, are worn out, and he will thence once more return to life.' This legend strongly resembles that of Don Sebastian, King of Portugal. There are no trout in the lake; it contains pike and roach in abundance. Not a tree or shrub occurs anywhere near the lake, except few near the Black Castle adjoining the farm, and on the small tufted islet called Garrod's Island, which is an object of deep interest, and on which are the ruins of a castle'. Liversage (1958, 67) described the castle within his prehistoric excavation report on the island in 1954. He describes the main visible feature on the island as ‘a large circular platform of stones about forty metres in diameter and one to two metres deep which has a high wall built on it’. The circular platform corresponds with the island mapped during the 1840 OSi survey. He (ibid., 67) further describes the ‘wall, which was built with mortar but has now almost entirely fallen, follows the circumference of the stone platform in a series of straight legs, and so encloses a polygon. Within the enclosure are traces of sunken rooms, and the wall contains a suggestion of an entrance and a few surviving quoin stones. However the whole structure is virtually devoid of architectural features and is terribly ruined and overgrown’. Wood-Martin (1886, 150) recorded that ‘in 1599 the crannóg of Lough Gur, county Limerick, was taken from the ‘Queen’s people’ by the Earl of Desmond, then in rebellion against Elizabeth. Sir George Carew relates that the Lord President of Munster, who reconnoitred the crannog for the purpose of its recapture in the following year, i.e. 1600, observed two small islets (the crannóga) and one large island; this latter ‘he found to be a place of exceeding strength, by reason that it was an island encompassed with a deep lough, the breadth thereof being, in the narrowest place, a caliver’s shot over. Upon one side thereof standeth a very strong castle, which at this time was manned with a good garrison, for there was within the island John Fitz Thomas with two hundred men at the least’. Carew’s account of the castle in 1600 is likely to be largely concerned with Bouchier’s Castle (LI032-022034-), although the stone mortared walled fortification on Garret Island (LI032-018----) appears to be referenced also. The circular platform on the island which forms the core of the castle remains is visible on Google Earth orthoimages taken 28/06/2018 and 20/09/2020 as open ground without tree cover. See attached Google Earth orthoimages Compiled by: Edmond O’Donovan Date of upload: 2 November 2020