Ballyshannon Castle
Encyclopedia
Ballyshannon Castle was a castle at Ballyshannon
, County Donegal
, Ireland
. The castle was a stronghold of the O’Donnell's
. No visual remains of the castle exist above ground.
. The castle was captured and sacked by Conn Bacach O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone
in 1522. Sir Conyers Clifford
’s army was repelled by Hugh Roe O'Donnell
after the castle was besieged for three days during the battle of Ballyshannon in 1597. The castle was transferred to Henry Folliot
after the decline of the O’Donnell
’s fortunes in 1606.
The castle was demolished in 1720 and a cavalry barracks built in its place. By the early 20th century, its site had been converted into a market yard to sell farm produce.
Ballyshannon
Ballyshannon is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. It is located where the N3 and N15 cross the River Erne, and claims to be the oldest town in Ireland.-Location:...
, County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The castle was a stronghold of the O’Donnell's
O'Donnell dynasty
O'Donnell , which is derived from the forename Domhnaill were an ancient and powerful Irish family, kings, princes, and lords of Tír Chonaill in early times, and the chief allies and sometimes...
. No visual remains of the castle exist above ground.
History
Niall Garbh Ó Domhnaill built Ballyshannon Castle in 1423 to command the ford over the River ErneRiver Erne
The River Erne , in the northwest of Ireland, rises in Beaghy Lough, two miles south of Stradone in County Cavan and flows 64 miles through Lough Gowna, Lough Oughter and Upper and Lower Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, to the sea at Ballyshannon, County Donegal...
. The castle was captured and sacked by Conn Bacach O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone
Conn O'Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone
Conn O'Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone King of Tír Eógain, c. 1480–1559.-Biography:A son of Conn Mór, King of Tír Eógain, grandson of Henry Ó Néill, the King of Tír Eógain, was the first of the Ó Néills whom the attempts of the English in the 16th century to subjugate Ireland brought to the front as...
in 1522. Sir Conyers Clifford
Conyers Clifford
-Life:He was the eldest son of George Clifford, esq., of Bobbing Court in Kent, by his wife Ursula, daughter of Roger Finch. He served in the army sent under Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex to the siege of Rouen in 1591, being then a captain...
’s army was repelled by Hugh Roe O'Donnell
Hugh Roe O'Donnell
Aodh Rua Ó Dónaill, anglicised as either Hugh Roe O'Donnell or Red Hugh O'Donnell , was An Ó Domhnaill and Rí of Tir Chonaill . He led the Irish forces against the English conquest of Ireland from 1593 and helped to lead the Nine Years' War from 1595 to 1603...
after the castle was besieged for three days during the battle of Ballyshannon in 1597. The castle was transferred to Henry Folliot
Henry Folliott, 1st Baron Folliott
Henry Folliott, 1st Baron Folliott was the second son of Thomas Folliott of Pirton Court, Pirton, Worcestershire.From about 1594 he served the Crown in Ireland and in 1603 was commissioned to develop a township adjacent to Ballyshannon Castle...
after the decline of the O’Donnell
O'Donnell dynasty
O'Donnell , which is derived from the forename Domhnaill were an ancient and powerful Irish family, kings, princes, and lords of Tír Chonaill in early times, and the chief allies and sometimes...
’s fortunes in 1606.
The castle was demolished in 1720 and a cavalry barracks built in its place. By the early 20th century, its site had been converted into a market yard to sell farm produce.