Cahir Castle

Exploring Ireland is always a fun thing -especially when I have companions to go exploring with! Today, I’ve headed to Cahir Castle. I’ve been here before with my friend A; and on my own, and this time I decided that Mr.🐟 would love to see this impressive castle – so in the car we went and a couple hours later – arrived to Cahir, and the gorgeous castle.

Untitled
View of Cahir Castle in Spring with the road to the right.

Cahir Castle was first built in wood in 1142 by Conchobar Ua Briain, King of Thomond, on what was then an island in the River Suir, and replaced an older stone ring fort (Irish: Cathir) at the same location. This “stone fort” lent its name to the castle and later, the town that grew up around the castle (Cahir).

The Castle grew in two parts, with the side nearest the main street and bridge being built about the 13th century when the original fortress was granted to James Butler, newly created Earl of Ormond, for his loyalty to English King Edward III. The Butler family became very powerful, and in the 1500’s (about 200 years later) added in the section of the castle which now houses the Audio-Visual presentation. By 1542 when the first of the Barons Cahir was created, and during the Tudor – Elizabethan era, the Butlers in Ireland sided with the Catholics.

Cahir Castle / Swiss cottage Co. TipperaryView of castle from inch field / park area

Despite being thought of as rather impregnable (It had stood strong for nearly 400 years) in 1599, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the castle was beseiged by Robert Devereux, the Earl of Essex before finally falling to heavy artillery that was used against it for the first time. Sir Charles Blount was put in charge of the castle and area for a year – until Lord Cahir joined with the Earl of Tyrone in 1601 took it back (he was charged with treason and later freed). In 1627, Cahir’s son-in-law, Lord Dunboyne, shockingly murdered his distant cousin, James Prendergast, at the castle in a dispute over an inheritance. Dunboyne was he was tried for the killing but acquitted not long after.

Untitled inside the great hall

During the Irish Confederate Wars it was besieged twice more, in 1647 and 1650. Out of “date” design wise, the castle fell into ruin in the late 1700s before being partially restored (the great hall) in the 1840s. While mostly disused, the castle then remained in the Butler family line (Lord Cahir) until 1961 when the last Lord Cahir died and the castle became the property of Ireland. Tours and visits are currently run by the Office of Public works (OPW).

Cahir Castle, County Tipperary; Ireland

A short Tiktok of my third visit is below (note that the outside area only was open during covid and the photos above are from the other 2 visits).

@phoenixrosedsgn lets explore #Cahir #Castle #Tipperary #Ireland #free #opw #staycation #history #travel #tourism #thingstodo #midevilcastle ♬ Wasted by the Water (Original Club Mix) – Joe & Cahir

Share

Emo Court House

Emo Court, located near the village of Emo in County Laois, Ireland is a grand home built in the Georgian period. It and the grounds are currently run and managed by the OPW and have free entry. There’s a lovely little cafe on site (we stopped here for lunch) and a little stroll while on the way back from visiting County Cork.

Emo Court, Co. Laois

The same designer of the Customs House in Dublin, Emo Court house was designed by the architect James Gandon in 1790 for John Dawson, the first Earl of Portarlington. Started in the 1790’s, construction on the home was paused when the first Earl died. From there, due to money issues, construction was started and stopped several times before the building was completed in the 1860s. The house was in it’s prime between 1860 – 1900, but when World War I started in in 1914, and in 1918 the Easter Rising and subsequent War of Irish Independence, the Earls of Portarlington vacated the premises to return to England.

The house remained closed up and unoccupied until it was sold in 1920 to the Irish Land Commission. At the time the estate (home and grounds) which extended over nearly 20 square miles, had the land parceled out to to local farmers but the house remained empty. Finally in the 1930’s, the Jesuits bought the house, a portion of the land and opened a religious training school on the site, which lasted until 1969. Major Cholmeley Harrison then bought the property in 1969, restored the house and lived in it as his private residence before turning it over to the Irish Office of Public Works (OPW) in 1994. The home and grounds continue to be managed by the OPW today, and entry is free.

@phoenixrosedsgn Emo Court House and grounds,Co. Laois. #grandhome #georgian #Ireland #tourism #staycation #explore #opw #free ♬ I Wanna Be Rich – Chereh Sputswe

New Life goals: Having a house (and maid?) on fantastic manicured lands like this….Ha!

Emo Court, Co. Laois

Share

Duleek Abbey, Co. Meath

Duleek Abby

Spring has finally arrived to Ireland, and as part of so has the sunshine and the chance to visit some further sites. My friend S. arrived this week she will spend the next month touring around Ireland. After picking her up at the airport and giving her a day to get over the ‘jet lag’ we struck out in the 19C day and decided to see some sites. Among them were several I had been to previously – New Grange; KNowth; Old Mellifont Abbey; Hill of Slane; ; and Trim Castle & Area. One thing that I did do differently was on the way, we stopped in at Duleek Abbey Ruins.

Duleek Abby

Duleek or Damhliag in Irish, translates to stone house or church- is a small town in County Meath, Ireland. The town began as an early Christian monastic settlement. St. Patrick established a bishopric here about 450 A.D. St. Cianan in 489 A.D., where a Pre-Norman Church was built on the site of St Mary’s Abbey. Today the ruins of the second incarnation (St. Cianan’s Church) Abbey are visible in Duleek today.

Duleek Abbey

Duleek Abbey

This monastic settlement was raided by Vikings in 830 and again in 1149. The body of Brian Boru lay in state here in 1014 on it’s way to Armagh after the Battle of Clontarf. In 1180 Hugh de Lacy, the Anglo-Norman Lord granted the church and lands to the Augustinians. What remains of the Abbey today is the 13th century southern arcade with a 14th century southern aisle (below). In the east gable of the aisle is a 16th century window (above). The plaque says “this window was made by Sirr Johne BelleWe Knight and Dame ?”

Duleek Abbey

Duleek Abbey

To the west is a 15th century bell-tower which was formerly joined to an earlier round tower. The round tower is no longer standing but the scar where it was joined onto the square tower is clearly visible on the side (below behind the tree). There are some faces carved into the bell tower as well. (close up below)

Duleek Abbey

Duleek Abbey

In the center of the former church, there’s a carved slab tomb which has carvings from the 1600’s which you can see below in the 4 photos.

Duleek Abbey

Duleek Abbey

Duleek Abbey

Duleek Abbey

There are two Celtic high crosses in the churchyard that date from the 10th Century. Within the church are some early cross-slabs, a Romanesque pilaster-capital, and the base and head of the South Cross (first picture below).

Duleek Abbey

To the north of the abbey is a small but complete High Cross. This Cross is only about the height of a person, and is quite weathered and difficult to see what the carvings are. Front:

Duleek Abbey

Close up of Gryphon?

Duleek Abbey

Reverse:

Duleek Abbey

With S for size measurement:

Duleek Abbey

There is also an effigial tomb slab of James Cusack, Bishop of Meath 1679-1688 (above), as you can see below.

Duleek Abbey

There are several other gravestones in the area, and a “modern” church that has now been converted to a restaurant for the town on the property (first picture). As a side note, there’s also a quaint little thatched cottage in Duleek within walking distance to the Abbey ruins (we parked in front of it) that I had to get a photo of – because it’s just been re-thatched and looked so pretty in the sunlight.

Duleek Abby

The full flickr set is here.

Share