Historical Postcard Collection: Carrick-on-Suir - Ormond Castle
Bailiúchán Chártaí Poist Stairiúla: Carraig na Siúire – Caisleán Urmhumhan
Displaying features of both Plantaganet and Tudor architecture, the Castle served as a residence for the Butler family in Carrick on Suir from the early 1300s until it was deserted in 1688. The site of the Castle was first built on in 1309 by Edmond Butler, Earl of Carrick, and the remains of its two towers are still to be seen rising up behind the Elizabethan manor. But it is for the magnificence of the 16th Century structure, and the events surrounding its construction, that Ormond Castle is well known.
From Gloominess to Grandeur
"Black Tom", 10th Earl of Ormond, built the mansion in 1565 in which he hoped, it was said, to entertain Queen Elizabeth. The Castle has steep gables, beautiful mullioned windows and was decorated on the interior with oak panels, carved limestone and elaborate stuccowork plaster. It was in many ways in direct contrast with the structure that had preceded it; austerity gave way to elaboration, and the concept of defence was forgotten. The new Castle was designed to be admired. The very fact that Thomas could build such a structure was testament to the security he felt in both financial and military terms.
Suggestions in the Décor?
One of the more interesting features of the decoration of the building are the less-than-subtle references made to the Queen in the plasterwork and paintings. There can be seen in one decoration the letters "T.O." (Thomas Ormond) and "E.R." (Elizabeth Regina), and it was no secret amongst the gentry that the Earl wished to make Elizabeth his wife. This idea, it seemed, appealed to her, and she fondly called Thomas her "black husband". Rebellion, however, was to break out in Munster and Elizabeth never visited the Castle that Ormond had, apparently, so lovingly created for her.
The Boleyn Connection
Another tradition linking Elizabeth to the Castle involves her mother, Anne Boleyn. Boleyn's mother, Margaret, was the daughter of the 7th Earl of Ormond. Close family ties to the area therefore meant that visits to Co. Tipperary were not rare, and during one such visit to Ormond Castle, Margaret, it is said, gave birth to Henry VIII's second wife. There is no formal record to back up this theory, but since information regarding Anne's birth is scarce, there exists none that proves it to be false either.
Restoration and Conservation
The Ormonds abandoned the Castle as a residence in 1688, but it
remained structurally sound until 1947, when it was taken into the care of the state. Restoration of the building was then undertaken, the most spectacular results of which are the spacious long gallery and the front façade of the mansion.
Ormond Castle is now under the control of the Office of Public Works, and is open for visitors from June to September.
Sources - Bassett, "County Tipperary"; Maher, "Ormonde Castle, an Anthology"
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last updated on: Friday, 03-Feb-12 19:32:15 GMT
Taispeánann an caisleán seo gnéith d’ailtireacht Phlantagenet agus Túdarach, agus bhí sé mar áit chónaithe ag na Buitléirigh i gCarraig na Siúire ó na 1300 luath do dtí gur teitheadh uaidh i 1688. Tógadh ar shuíomh an chaisleáin don chéad uair sa bhliain 1309 agus tá fothrachá na dtúr a thóg Éamonn de Buitléir, Iarla na Carraige, le feiceáil taobh thiar den mhainéar Éilíseach. Tá cliú agus cáil ar an gcaisleáin, áfach, toisc an fhoirgnimh a tógadh sa 16ú hAois.
Ó Ghruaim go Gliondar
“Tomás Dubh”, an 10ú hIarla Urmhumhan, athóg an caisleán sa bhliain 1565, agus deirtear gur le haghaidh cuairt ó Éilis I a bhí sé. Tá beanna géara, fuinneoga muilleanacha gleoite, agus maisíodh ar an taobh istigh é le painéil darach, aolchloch snoite agus obair stucó sa phlástar. Bhí sé go hiomlán difiúil ón struchtúr a bhí ann roimhe; in áit déine, bhí ilchastacht, agus déanadh dearmad ar choincheap na cosanta. Tógadh an Caisleán nua mar ábhar drúise. Is léir gur mhothaigh Tomás an-slán ó thaobh airgid agus cosanta de, chun struchtúr mar sin a thógáil.
Inmheabhrú sa Décor?
Gnéithe suimiúla i maisiú an fhoirgnimh seo ná na tagairtí neamhchaolchúiseacha don Bhanríon sa phlástar agus sna pictiúir. I maisiúchán amháin is féidir na litreacha "T.O." (Thomas Ormond) agus "E.R." (Elizabeth Regina) a léamh, agus ní rún a bhí ann idir na huaisle go raibh sé ar intinn ag an Iarla Éilis a bheith aige mar bhean chéile. Níor chuir an smaoineamh seo as don Bhanríon, agus ghlaoigh sí a “fear chéile dubh” ar Thomás. Bhuail Réabhlóid Cúige Mumhan, áfach, agus níor éirigh don Banríon cuairt a thabhairt ar an gcaisleán a thóg Tomás go grámhar di.
Nasc leis na Boleyn
Traidisiún eile a nascann Éilis leis an gCaisleán ab í a máthair, Anne Boleyn. Ba iníon leis an 7ú hIarla Urmhumhan máthair Anne Boleyn, Margaret. Níorbh annamh na cuairteanna go Contae Thiobraid Árann agus deirtear gur ar cuairt go Caisleán Urmhumhan, a rugadh ar bhean chéile Anraí VIII. Níl aon eolas oifigiúl a dheimhníonn an teoiric seo, ach toisc go bhfuill eolas faoi bhreith Anne gann, níl eolas ar bith a léiríonn nach bhfuil sé fíor ach oiread.
Athchóirú agus Caomhnú
Theith muintir Urmhumhan ón gCaisleán sa bhliain 1688, ach d’fhan sé le chéile go dtí 1947, nuair a thit sé faoi churam an Stáit. Déanadh athchóiriú an sin ar an bhfoirgneamh agus is féidir iad a fheiceáil anois san áiléar fada agus san aghaidh ar an mainéar.
Tá Caisleán Urmhumhan faoi chúram Oifig na nOibreach Poiblí, agus ta sé ar oscailt do chuairteoirí ó Mheitheamh go Meán Fómhair.
Foinsí - Bassett, "County Tipperary"; Maher, "Ormonde Castle, an Anthology"
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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 19:32:15 GMT