Cahir Castle
Encyclopedia
Cahir Castle one of the largest castle
s in Ireland
, is sited on an island in the river Suir
. It was built in 1142 by Conor O'Brien, Prince of Thomond
. Now situated in Cahir
town centre, South Tipperary
the castle is well preserved and has guided tour and audiovisual shows in multiple languages.
. His son James, the second Earl (by his second marriage) passed the lands around the barony
of Iffa and Offa West
to his children, though they were not themselves noble. This changed by 1542 when the first of the Barons Cahir
was created. Unlike their staunchly Anglican kinsmen, this branch of the Butler dynasty
sided with the Roman Catholic Irish in the Elizabethan wars. In 1599 the castle was captured after a three day siege
by the army of the Earl of Essex
and was for a year put under the charge of Sir Charles Blount
.
During the Irish Confederate Wars
the castle was besieged twice. In 1647 George Mathew, the guardian of the young Lord Cahir, surrendered to Murrough O'Brien, 6th Baron Inchiquin (later 1st Earl, and a descendant of Cahir's builder) following his victory at the battle of Knocknanauss. In 1650 he surrendered again to Oliver Cromwell
, during his conquest of Ireland
without a shot even being fired.
In 1961 the last Lord Cahir died and the castle reverted to the Irish
state.
Granted to the powerful Butler family in late 14th century, the castle was enlarged and remodelled between the 15th and 17th centuries. It fell into ruin in the late 18th century and was partially restored in the 1840s. The Great Hall was partly rebuilt in 1840. Now a national monument, it is managed by the Office of Public Works
.
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
s in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, is sited on an island in the river Suir
River Suir
The River Suir is a river in Ireland that flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Waterford after a distance of .Popular with anglers, it holds plentiful reserves of brown trout...
. It was built in 1142 by Conor O'Brien, Prince of Thomond
Thomond
Thomond The region of Ireland associated with the name Thomond is County Clare, County Limerick and north County Tipperary; effectively most of north Munster. The name is used by a variety of establishments and organisations located in , or associated with the region...
. Now situated in Cahir
Cahir
Cahir is a town in South Tipperary in Ireland. The town is best known for its castle and the Swiss Cottage. It is in the barony of Iffa and Offa West.-Location and access:...
town centre, South Tipperary
South Tipperary
South Tipperary is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Munster. It is named after the town of Tipperary and consists of 52% of the land area of the traditional county of Tipperary. The county was established in 1898 and has had a county...
the castle is well preserved and has guided tour and audiovisual shows in multiple languages.
Role in History
In 1375, the castle was granted to James Butler, newly-created Earl of Ormond, for his loyalty to Edward IIIEdward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
. His son James, the second Earl (by his second marriage) passed the lands around the barony
Barony (Ireland)
In Ireland, a barony is a historical subdivision of a county. They were created, like the counties, in the centuries after the Norman invasion, and were analogous to the hundreds into which the counties of England were divided. In early use they were also called cantreds...
of Iffa and Offa West
Iffa and Offa West
Iffa and Offa West is one of the baronies of Ireland, an historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Cahir...
to his children, though they were not themselves noble. This changed by 1542 when the first of the Barons Cahir
Baron Cahir
Baron Cahir is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1542 for Thomas Butler who was a descendant of James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormond. Descendants later became Viscounts Cahir and Earls Glenarm. Cahir is a town in the barony of Iffa and Offa West, South Tipperary...
was created. Unlike their staunchly Anglican kinsmen, this branch of the Butler dynasty
Butler dynasty
Butler dynasty refers to the several branches of the Butler family that has its origins in the Cambro-Norman family that participated in the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century. Variant spellings include le Boteler and le Botiller. The surname has its origins in the hereditary office of...
sided with the Roman Catholic Irish in the Elizabethan wars. In 1599 the castle was captured after a three day siege
Siege of Cahir Castle
The Siege of Cahir Castle took place in Munster, in southern Ireland in 1599, during the campaign of the Earl of Essex against the rebels in the Nine Years War . Although the castle was considered the strongest fortress in the country, Essex took it after only a few days of artillery bombardment...
by the army of the Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, KG was an English nobleman and a favourite of Elizabeth I. Politically ambitious, and a committed general, he was placed under house arrest following a poor campaign in Ireland during the Nine Years' War in 1599...
and was for a year put under the charge of Sir Charles Blount
Sir Charles Blount
Sir Charles Blount was an English soldier during the Tudor period.-Life:Sir Charles was the son of Sir Michael Blount of Mapledurham House in Oxfordshire and his wife, Mary Moore...
.
During the Irish Confederate Wars
Irish Confederate Wars
This article is concerned with the military history of Ireland from 1641-53. For the political context of this conflict, see Confederate Ireland....
the castle was besieged twice. In 1647 George Mathew, the guardian of the young Lord Cahir, surrendered to Murrough O'Brien, 6th Baron Inchiquin (later 1st Earl, and a descendant of Cahir's builder) following his victory at the battle of Knocknanauss. In 1650 he surrendered again to Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
, during his conquest of Ireland
Cromwellian conquest of Ireland
The Cromwellian conquest of Ireland refers to the conquest of Ireland by the forces of the English Parliament, led by Oliver Cromwell during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Cromwell landed in Ireland with his New Model Army on behalf of England's Rump Parliament in 1649...
without a shot even being fired.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
state.
Construction
Cahir Castle was built in the 13th century on a site of an earlier native fortification called a cathair (stone fort), which gave its name to the place. The castle was built in two parts, with the side now by the street being built 200 years before the side now housing the audio-visual show.Granted to the powerful Butler family in late 14th century, the castle was enlarged and remodelled between the 15th and 17th centuries. It fell into ruin in the late 18th century and was partially restored in the 1840s. The Great Hall was partly rebuilt in 1840. Now a national monument, it is managed by the Office of Public Works
Office of Public Works
The Office of Public Works is a State Agency of the Department of Finance in the Republic of Ireland...
.