What is recorded here

Greenan Castle vanished completely by 1840, leaving only a hundred-metre hill rising fifteen metres above the road where Walter de Burgo held the manor in 1272. Theobald Lord Brittas still owned the small castle and marble quarry during the 1654 Civil Survey, yet the structure dissolved before the Hollow Blades Company bought the estate in 1703. Perhaps the marble men stripped its stones for their own buildings, erasing the Burke stronghold one cartload at a time while the hill kept its shape.

In 1840 the site of Greenan Castle was described as 'Greenan Castle, of which there is nothing to be seen at present, stood on a small hill, about 5 chains [100m] in diameter, and about 50 feet [15m] high from the level of the road' (OSNB Inch St. Lawrence Parish, 814). Westropp (1906-07, 88) recorded the following details about Greenan Castle or Grenanbeg; '1242 Named as the manor of Tristellaueran (C.S.P.I.). 1272-74 Walter de Burgo held it with Castr' konyng (Pipe R., 1 and 3). 1309 Fine of Ric. de Burgo, Earl of Ulster, on manors of Esclon and Tristellauerans. 1327 W. Burke, his cousin and heir, got living of same. 1410 Emon, second son of Walter Duff Burk, was, by his father's disposition, given the four seisreachs of Disert Labrais, and the four of Garran ui chiabaigh in Aes-tri-muighe'(Rental). 1558 Tho, mac Ric. Bourke held Dysardelowrowe in Clynelyum (Fi. 274). 1583 Perhaps C[astle]. and vill of Inshe (Des. R, 8). 1641 Theo. Lord Brittas settled it on his mother, Margaret, widow of John Baron of Brittas, the C[atle]. of Grenanbeg with Knockruo and Enishenlawrence, Knocktanacastlane C[astle], Dunemona C[astle], Rathjordan and Castle Troy (C.S.P.I., 1660-62). 1655 Inshenlawrence held by Cormock Heyne (D.S.A., 13 ; C.S., xxi., p. 30). 1703 Sold as estate of Lord Brittas to the Hollow Blades Company'. Greenan Castle depicted standing on a hill on the 17th century Down Survey map of Clanwilliam Barony (Hib. Reg.). Tower House like castle depicted on the parish map of Inch St. Lawrence (NLI MS. 718) The terrier of the Down Survey map of Inch St. Lawrence recorded that 'There standes a Castle on the Lande of Insenlawrence' which belonged to Theobald Lord Brittas (NLI Ms. 718). The 1654-56 Civil Survey of Limerick recorded that Theobald Lord Borke Baron of Brittas was the owner of 'a smale Castle in reparation and a marbell quarrie' (Simington 1938, 78). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 1 December 2020

Greenan Castle was built by the MacDonnells, a Gaelic Irish clan, in the 16th century and later held by the Montgomerys. It is remembered as a significant defensive structure in the historical landscape of Inishowen, reflecting the turbulent history of clan conflict and colonial expansion in western Ulster.

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