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Bid to save O'Doherty Castle
31.08.11
A campaign has been
launched to raise €120,000 to "stabilise and
preserve" O’Doherty Castle at Carrickabraghy on the
Isle of Doagh, Inishowen. The campaign is being led
by the Carrickabraghy Restoration Society, a new
group of concerned locals, who want to save the
ancient building from further dilapidation. The
group also wants to explore the potential of other
archaeological and historical treasures in the
region.
“The castle is falling down and has become a danger
to the public,” says chairman Marius Harkin.
“However, it is a site of considerable historical
importance and a major part of the heritage of
Inishowen, which we want to preserve for locals and
tourists alike. It is expected that work on
stabilising the castle will commence within a few
months and will be finished by this time next year.”
The society has applied for part funding to the
Inishowen Development Partnership and have already
received €5,000 in funding from the Heritage
Council. Other local and national institutions have
also expressed strong support, including the
Ballyliffin Development Group and Ballyliffin Golf
Club. Sean Beattie of the Donegal Historical Society
described Carrickabraghy as “a vital element of the
heritage that we passionately need to preserve for
future generations”.
The castle was built before the 17th century,
although the settlement there is mentioned in the
Annals of the Four Masters as early as the 9th
century, when the region was ruled by the McFaul
clan. It was frequently raided at that time, then
used as a trading post and eventually settled by
Vikings during the period 9th-12th centuries. The
last (Viking-Irish) "king" of Carrickabraghy before
the O'Dohertys was Sitric McFaul, who died in 1109. |
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The ruins of O’Doherty Castle at
picturesque Carrickabraghy on the Isle of Doagh. |
The site of the castle
is on a rocky promontory at the mouth of Trawbreaga
Bay, with spectacular views of the Donegal hills and
headland. It was later the observation point of a
major naval battle, involving hundreds of
Viking-style long boats, which took place at the
mouth of the Swilly, between the McLaughlins of
Aileach and O'Connors of Connaught, fighting
essentially for the High-Kingship of Ireland.
The O’Dohertys moved in during the 13th century,
probably by sailing long boats down the Swilly from
their earlier centre around Raphoe in the Lagan
Valley. From Carrickabraghy they gradually extended
their lordship over the rest of Inishowen, which
lasted until the Plantation of Ulster in 1610.
Marius Harkin thanked the McGlinchey Association,
reports were commissioned on the castle from an
archaeologist, an engineer and a conservation
architect.
“These reports indicate that remedial work on the
castle is urgently needed in order to avoid complete
collapse of the remaining structure in the next few
years. These experts have prepared a detailed
specification which will guide the society’s work.”
If you would like to join or support the society –
whether you are at home or abroad - you can contact
them on
www.carrickabraghy.com , +35374- 9378468, or at
Carrickabraghy Restoration Society, Isle of Doagh,
Inishowen, Co Donegal. |
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