Carrickabraghy Castle

Carrickabraghy Castle
	Carrickabraghy Castle before restoration
Alternative name (s):	Caisleán Charraig Bhrachai
Creation time :	9th century
Castle type :	Niederungsburg
Conservation status:	ruin
Standing position :	Irish nobility
Construction:	Quarry stone
Place:	Clonmany
Geographical location	55 ° 18 '58.9 " N , 7 ° 22' 21.9" W Coordinates: 55 ° 18 '58.9 " N , 7 ° 22' 21.9" W.
Height:	3 m ASL

Carrickabraghy Castle ( Irish : Caisleán Charraig Bhrachaí ) than ruin on a rock at the far northwest end of the peninsula Isle of Doagh on the peninsula Inishowen in Ireland's County Donegal . It is part of the Clonmany parish .

Surname

There is agreement that the Irish word "Carraig" in German means rock, but people are arguing over what "Brachaí" means: It is thought that this is a proper noun, as in the prior Norman genealogy of Cineal Fhearghasa mentioned ; it could have been an ancestor of the McFall branch . Mactochair writes in his book Inishowen, Its History, Traditions and Antiquities that Carraig Bhrachaí has the meaning of "rock of the (Christian) brothers" (eigtl. Bráithre ).

history

From the 9th to the 13th century, Inishowen was politically divided into three Thuatha (districts). These were Aileach in the south, Bredach in the east and Carraig Bhrachaí in the west. The lords of Carraig Bhrachaí were the branch of the Ó Maolfabhail or in English the McFalls , who descended from the Cineal Fhearghasa , a branch of the Cineál Eoghain . They exercised their power in the townland of Carrickabraghy , the area where the castle now stands. They were one of the most important families in Inishowen.

The first recorded mention of Carrickabraghy is in The Annals of the Four Masters :

834 The monarch Niall Caille led an army to Leinster; one of his officers, Fearghas , son of Badhbhchadh , lord of Carraig Bhrachaí, was killed by men from Munster .

857 Sechonnan , son of Conaing , king of Carraig Bhrachaí, died.

878 Maolfabhail , son of Loingseach , lord of Carraig Bhrachaí, died.

907 Ruarc , son of Maolfabhail , lord of Carraig Bhrachaí, died.

915 In a battle between Irish and foreigners (Danes or Norwegians), the clan chief of Carraig Bhrachaí fell.

965 Tiarnach , son of Ruarc , lord of Carraig Bhrachaí, died.

1014 Cú Dubh , son of Maolfabhail , clan chief of Carraig Bhrachaí, was murdered by the Tadhg Breagha .

1053 Flaitheartach Ó Maolfabhail , lord of Carraig Bhrachaí, died.

1065 Muireartach Ó Maolfabhail , King of Carraig Bhrachaí, was killed by the Uí Meith of Menna Tire .

1082 Giolla Chríost Ó Maolfabhail , King of Carraig Bhrachaí, was killed.

1102 An army was led by the Cineál Eoghain to Maigh Cobha . The Ulidians invaded their unguarded camp at night and killed a number of them, including the king of Carraig Bhrachaí, Sitric Ó Mailfabhail .

1166 Aodh Ó Maolfabhail , King of Carraig Bharchaí, was treacherously murdered by Muireartach , son of Niall MacLochlainn .

1199 Cathalan Ó Maolfabhail , King of Carraig Bhrachaí, was killed by O'Dearain (no details), who in turn was murdered in revenge by the followers of Cathalan immediately afterwards.

1215 Trad Ó Maolfabhail , clan chief of the Cineál Fhearghasa , his brothers and a large number of people were killed in Dumbartonshire , Scotland by Muireadach , the chief steward of Lennox . The details of the conflict are not recorded.

At this point, all records about the Lords of Carraig Bhrachaí end.

It is striking that the Lords of Carrickabraghy were so important that they were mentioned in this book of Irish history for such a long period. They were heavily involved in the medieval conflicts and were considered important officers in those battles where they fought alongside kings and were taken to battles overseas.

Seán Beattie mentions a story about a Viking raid on Donegal in the 10th century in his book Ancient Monuments of Inishowen . Three princesses were taken hostage in this raid. One of them escaped and took stolen treasures with her. She ended up in Carrickabraghy and married a local clan chief there.

Throughout the Viking invasion of Inishowen, the McFalls were the masters of Carrickabraghy.

Carraig Bhrachaí is not mentioned again until 1600 in the history books. The current remains of the castle are said to have been built during this time. The Ó Dochartaigh clan had come to power in Inishowen and the clan chief and lord of Inishowen was Seán Óg Ó Dochartaigh . The English invasion of Ireland had been going on for a long time and Sean Oq thought the best place to protect his cattle and supplies from English raids was on the Isle of Doagh with his relative, Lord of Carraig Bhrachaí, Feilim Brasleach Ó Dochartaigh . There was good reason for this as the Isle of Doagh was unknown to the English and was easily defended because it was only accessible at low tide.

Seán Óg Ó Dochartaigh died unexpectedly in 1601 and his successor as Lord von Inishowen had not yet been appointed. The usual choice, his firstborn son, Cathaoir Rua , was not yet of legal age, and there were other forces at work who wanted their own people installed. Aodh Rua Ó Donaill , the lord of Tír Dhonaill , wanted an experienced and grown man at the helm who would remain loyal to him and effectively keep the peninsula and its supplies under his control. This man was Feilim Óg , Seán Óg's half-brother. The English commander in Derry , Sir Henry Dowcra , was not interested in who the successor was so long as he was ready to submit himself and his territory to the Queen of England. Aodh Buí Mac Daibheid wanted the young Cathaoir as his successor. Aodh Rua Ó Donaill prevailed and Feilim Og was introduced to his post in February 1601. His rule, however, was to be short-lived. Aodh Buí Mac Daibheid had through clever negotiations both with Dowcra and with Ó Donaill in May 1601 Cathaoir Rua Ó Dochertaigh used as the legal lord of Inishowen. He was only 14 years old and should be the last of the great Irish gentlemen.

Ireland was at that time divided into tiny territories, which led to feuds and disputes between the individual clans. The English were seen as just another enemy and the clan chiefs were only interested in keeping their own property.

Aodh Rua Ó Donaill mobilized his army in May 1601 to attack Aodh Buí Mac Daibheid, who had formed an alliance with the English. Its reasons for this are not known. Perhaps he thought he had been twice cheated when he agreed to have Cathaoir Rua as Lords of Inishowen. The battle took place on the sandy plain of Pollan on the Isle of Doagh, not far from Carrickabraghy Castle. Aodh Rua Ó Donaill and his forces were defeated. Matochair writes: "The battle was bloody, the losses terrible."

Even though Cathaoir Rua had been lord of Inishowen since 1601, he did not have full control of the land until he turned 18 in 1605. His rule was peaceful until the flight of the Counts in 1607. The English feared that the Earls would return from Spain with new forces and reclaim their lands; they thought Cathaoir Rua should play a part in this plan. In the fall of 1607, Cathaoir went to Rua to beat lumber in Kilmacrennan . English spies instead reported that Cathaoir Rua was raising forces for a rebellion. He heard of the English suspicions and felt the danger. He hid at Carrigabraghy Castle. From there he planned his famous rebellion, which ended with his death in 1608.