Historical Postcard Collection: Nenagh - Nenagh Castle
Bailúchán Chártaí Poist Stairiúla: An tAonach – Caisleán an Aonaigh
The castle is Nenagh's oldest building, and its construction in the 13th Century laid the foundation for the development of the town. Theobald FitzWalter, whose successors would become Earls and Dukes of Ormond, built the castle and upon its completion c.1220 it served as the main seat of the Butler family. The keep, the 100ft high tower house that is today known as Nenagh Castle, was at one time surrounded by walls, along which were placed a gate house and two defensive towers. The keep is in a good state of repair; however only remains of the gatehouse and one small tower currently remain.
Defensive Features
Leask described Nenagh Castle as "the most remarkable structure of its kind in Ireland", and it was built specifically with defence in mind. The walls at the base of the castle are "splayed", which protected the base from canon fire, and the subsequent curvature of the walls allowed missiles dropped from above to ricochet outwards upon the assailants. Also to be seen on the wall is a "machicolation". This is a stone platform that projects from the third floor, resulting in an overhang on top of attackers. The platform had a central opening, through which defenders dropped an array of missiles down directly on the heads of those below.
From Nenagh to Boston
It was at Nenagh Castle, in 1336, that a peace treaty was signed between James, the 1st Earl of Ormond, and a representative of the O'Kennedy family. The treaty included terms of peace and grants of lands for the Gaelic clan, but the agreement is more noteworthy because of what became of it over 600 years later. The treaty was presented as a gift to John F. Kennedy during his state visit to Ireland in 1963, and it is now housed in the J.F.K Library in Massachusetts. As for the O'Kennedy's adherence to the treaty, they would go on to break its terms in spectacular fashion in 1347-8, when they unsuccessfully attacked the Castle and burnt the town. In this endeavour they were assisted by the O'Briens and O'Carrolls.
The Castle, Nenagh
NENAGH - The Castle
Attempts at Capture and Destruction
The Castle led a charmed life during the turbulent 17th Century. During the course of the Confederate and Cromwellian Wars it was seized on three separate occasions, until it was finally granted to Col. Daniel Abbot, along with extensive lands, in lieu of pay from Cromwell. The Butlers regained it after the Restoration in 1660. During the Jacobite War Anthony O'Carroll took the Castle from James, the 2nd Duke, who supported William, but it was retaken in August 1690, by Ginkel. Two years later William ordered its demolition so that it would be "rendered indefensible in ill hands". The keep, however was only partly damaged. Further destruction was wrought in 1750, when a farmer called Newsome attempted to demolish the Castle, as the sparrows it housed were destroying his barley crop nearby.
The battlements on top of the keep were rebuilt in 1861, and further conservation was undertaken in 1929. In 1985 the field around the Castle was developed as a small town park. The Office of Public works currently maintains the building.
Sources - Sheehan, "Nenagh and its Neighbourhood"; Murphy, "Nenagh Castle
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last updated on: Tuesday, 03-Aug-2010 15:40:10 IST
Is é an caisleán an foirgneamh is sine san Aonach, agus chuir a thógáil tús le forbairt an bhaile. Theobald FitzWalter, a mbeadh a chlann mar Iarlaí agus Diúcaí Urmhumhan, a thóg an caisleán agus nuair a críochnaíodh é c.1220 d’fheidhmigh sé mar phríomhshuíochán na mBuitléireach. Bhíodh an daingean, an túr 100 troithe ar airde a dtugtar Caisleán an Aonaigh air anois, timpeallaithe le ballaí tráth. Ar na ballaí, bhí teach geata agus dhá túr cosanta. Tá an daingean fós ann, ach ní mhaireann ach ársaí den teach geata agus túr beag amháin.
Tréíthe Cosanta
Thug Leask "the most remarkable structure of its kind in Ireland" ar Chaisleán an Aonaigh, agus tógadh é chun cosaint. Ta na ballaí ag bun an chaisleáin “spréite”, a chosain ó ghunnalámhaigh na gcanónacha é. Bhí cuar sna ballaí a ligeadh d’urchair preabadh astu agus i dtreo na n-ionsaitheoirí. Sna ballaí chomh maith tá “poill lámhaigh”. Ardáin iad seo a ghobadh amach ón tríú urlár os cionn na n-ionsaitheoirí. Bhíodh oscailt lárnach san ardán, a ligeadh do na cosantóirí iomaí urchar a scaoileadh anuas orthu siúd thíos faoi.
Ón Aonach go Bostún
Ba ag Caisleán an Aonaigh, sa bhliain 1336, a síníodh conradh síocháin idir Séamas, Iarla Urmhumhan, agus Clann Uí Chinnéide. Faoi théarmaí an chonartha, bronnaíodh talamh ar an gclann Gaelach, ach is fiú tabhairt faoi deara a tharla don chonradh 600 bliain níos déanaí. Tugadh mar bhronntanas do John F. Kennedy é lenn linn a chuairte go hÉirinn sa bhliain 1963, agus tá sé anois sa Leabharlann J.F.K. i Massachusetts. Maidir le téarmaí an chonartha féin, bhrisfeadh muintir Uí Chinnéide go mórthaibhseach. Sa bhliain 1347 rinne siad ionsaí ar an gcaisleán. Dhóigh siad an baile. Bhí cabhair acu sa ghníomh seo ó mhuintir Uí Bhriain agus muintir Uí Chearúil.
An Caisleán, An tAonach
AN tAONACH – An Caisleán
Iarrachtaí Gabhála agus Scriosadh
Bhí an t-ádh dearg ar an gcaisleán sa 16ú hAois. Sna Cogaí Comhdhála agus Cromaileach, gabhadh é trí huaire. Ar deireadh, bronnaíodh ar an gCoirnéil Daniel Abbot, maille le talamh, in áite íocaíochta ó Chromail. Fuair na Buitléirigh arís é i ndiaidh na hAthghairme i 1660. Sa Chogadh Seacabaíteach, ghabh Antain Ó Cearúil an caisleán ó Shéamas, an dara Diúca, a thug tacaíocht do Liam Oráiste, ach d’athghabh Ginkel i mí Lúnasa 1690 é. Dhá bhliain níos déanaí, d’ordaigh Liam a scriosadh ionas nach mbeadh sé inchosanta. Níor scriosadh an daingean go hiomlán, áfach. Déanadh níos mó damáiste sa bhliain 1750, nuair a rinne feirmeoir darbh ainm dó Newsome iarracht an caisleán a scriosadh toisc go raibh na gealbhain a mahir ann ag cur isteach ar a bharr eorna.
D’athfhoirgníodh na forbhallaí ar bharr an daingin sa bhliain 1861, agus déanadh níos mó athchóiriú sa bhliain 1929. Déanadh páirce bheag bhaile den ghort timpeall ar an gcaisleán sa bhliain 1985. Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí a reachtálann an foirgneamh anois.
Foinsí - Sheehan, "Nenagh and its Neighbourhood"; Murphy, "Nenagh Castle
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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: Tuesday, 03-Aug-2010 15:40:10 IST