Historical Postcard Collection: Cahir - Cahir Castle
Bailiúchán Chártaí Poist Stairiúla: An Chathair – Caisleán na Cathrach
Cahir Castle is, in every sense, the rock upon and around which the town is built. Dating originally from the 1200s, the structure was founded upon an island in the river Suir, replacing the previous fortifications that gave the town its name (cathair – stone fort). Once the seat of the Butler family, the Earls of Ormond, it is one of the largest and best preserved castles in the country, and a perfect example of late medieval construction. Reynolds, secretary to the Earl of Essex in 1599, noted that it was "the only famous castle of Ireland which was thought impregnable and is the bulwark of Munster".
A Rebel's Last Refuge
Cahir Castle was the backdrop before which many dramas during the turbulent 16th and 17th Centuries were played out. During the Nine Years War Thomas, Lord Cahir, who rebelled against Elizabeth, held the Castle. The result of his treason was a three-day siege, during which James Gallda, Lord Cahir's brother, escaped Essex' forces by swimming under the fort's water mill. The Castle was later returned to an apologetic Thomas. A cannonball lodged in the northeast tower remains to this day as a reminder of what was a well-documented and intriguing period in Cahir Castle's history.
A Return to Loyalty
During the Confederate War Cahir was taken by Inchiquin in 1647, but had to be re-taken in 1650 by Cromwell himself. By this time he had forged a fierce reputation, and the garrison surrendered on the terms he had offered before Cromwell had an opportunity to, as he put it, "bend my cannon upon (them)". Two years later he returned to the Castle to finally subdue the Confederacy, with whom he signed a Treaty in the Castle's hall.
The Fall and Rise
Throughout the years that followed the methods of both warfare and political administration changed, and these had a knock-on effect on the Castle. It was also an uncomfortable place in which to live. The Butlers and their heirs moved their residence to Rehill House and, later, Cahir House. In 1843 Richard, Lord Glengall noted that there were so many problems involved in making the Castle a residence again that he "doubt(ed) the prudence of doing so". Significant restoration work was carried out, however, before Richard's death in 1858. In 1964 the state took the monument into its care and carried out further improvements.
The Castle has proven very popular with film makers who have wished to capture the imposing grandeur of a medieval stronghold. Its charms have graced the films Catholics, Barry Lyndon, Tristan and Isolde and Excalibur.
The Office of Public Works now welcomes around 75,000 visitors to Cahir Castle every year.
Sources - Dúchas, the Heritage Service, "Cahir Castle, Co. Tipperary"; Butler, D.J., "Cahir - A Guide to Heritage Town & District"; Murphy, D. & N., "Tipperary: A Touring Guidebook".
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last updated on: Friday, 03-Feb-12 19:31:59 GMT
I ngach aon slí, is é Caisleán na Cathrach an charraig ar a dtógadh an baile. Tagann sé ó na 1200, agus bunaíodh ar oileán sa tSiúir é. Tháinig sé in áit na ‘Cathrach’ (dún cloiche) a thug ainm anbhaile dó. Bhí sé mar chathaoir na mBuitléirach, Iarlaí Urmhumhan. Tá sé ar cheann de na caisleáin is mó agus is mó caomhnaithe sa tír, agus is sampla foirfeach é de thógáil sna meánaoiseanna déanacha. Thug Reynolds, rúnaí an Iarla Essex i 1599, faoi deara go raibh se ar an t-aon caisleán amháin in Éirinn a ceapadh a raibh sé do-ionsaithe agus ba bhabhún na Mumhan é.
Tearmann Déireanach Reibiliúnaigh
Ba chúldhreacht Caisleán na Cathrach leis na drámaí a tharla sa 16ú agus 17ú hAois. Le linn Chogadh na Naoi mBliain, bhí Tomás, Tiarna na Cathrach, bhí in aghaidh Éilise, sa Chaisleán. Mar thoradh ar a thréas, déanadh ionsaí trí lá ar an gCaisleán. Le linn na troda, d’éalaigh Séamas Gallda, dearthair Thomáis, ó fhórsaí Essex, nuair a chuaigh sé ag snámh faoi mhuileann uisce an dúin. Tugadh an Caisleán ar ais go Tomás, gan é a bheith dionchruthaithe roimh Éilis. Tá caor gunna mhóir fós le feiceáil sa bhalla mar séadchomhartha ar thréimhse suimiúl is stair na Cathrach.
Ar Ais Chun na Dílseachta
Le linn Chogadh na Cómhdhála, ghabh Inchiquin an Caisleán i 1647. Bhí ar Chromail é féin an Caisleán a athghabháil i 1650. Bhí droch-cháil ar Chromail faoin am seo, agus ghéill an garastún ar an théarmaí sular éirigh leis, ina fhocail féin "bend my cannon" ar na ballaí. Dhá bhliain níos déanaí, thainig sé ar ais go dtí an Caisleán chun an Chomhdháil a chuir faoi chois. Shínigh sé Conradh leo i hallaí an Chaisleáin.
Titim agus Eirí
Sna blianta a lean, d’athraigh modhanna cogaíochta agus polaitíochta, agus bhí éifeachtaí ag na hathruithe seo ar an gCaisleán. Chomh maith leis seo, b’áit an-mhíchompórdach le cónaí ann é. Bhog na Buitléirigh agus a sliocht go hÁras Rehill agus ansin go Teach na Cathrach. In 1843, thug Risteard, Tiarna Ghleann na nGall, faoi dear go raibhan méid sin fadhbanna ag baint le háit cónaithe a dhéanamh den Chaisleán arís, nár mheas sé gur b’fhiú é a dhéanamh. Déanadh mórathchóiriú air roimh bháis Risteaird in 1858, áfach. Sa bhliain 1964, tháinig an Stát i bhfeighil air agus déanadh feabhsú éile.
Tá an-tóir ar an gCaisleán idir stiúrthóirí scannán atá mórgacht chaisleáin mheanaoisigh uathu. Bhí an Caisleán sna scannáin Catholics, Barry Lyndon, Tristan and Isolde agus Excalibur.
Cuireann Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí failte roimh os cionn 75,000 cuairteoir go Caisleán na Cathrach gach uile bhliain.
Foinsí - Dúchas, the Heritage Service, "Cahir Castle, Co. Tipperary"; Butler, D.J., "Cahir - A Guide to Heritage Town & District"; Murphy, D. & N., "Tipperary: A Touring Guidebook".
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Brabhsáil an bailiúchán chártaí poist stairiúla:
Cluain Meala - Nenagh - Tipperary - Roscrea - Templemore - Carrick on Suir - Cashel - Cahir - Thurles - Gleann Eatharlaí
nuashonraithe ar: Friday, 03-Feb-12 19:31:59 GMT