Clonyn Castle
Encyclopedia
Delvin
Delvin is a small town in east County Westmeath, Ireland located on the N52 road at a junction with the N51 to Navan. The town is from Mullingar and is the setting of the book Valley of the Squinting Windows by Delvin native Brinsley MacNamara, described under the fictitious name of "Garradrimna"...
, County Westmeath
County Westmeath
-Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...
some 18 km from Mullingar
Mullingar
Mullingar is the county town of County Westmeath in Ireland. The Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act of 1542, proclaimed Westmeath a county, separating it from Meath. Mullingar became the administrative centre for County Westmeath...
, in 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...
along the N52
N52 road (Ireland)
The N52 road is a national secondary road in Ireland. It links the M7 motorway from just south of Nenagh, County Tipperary to the M1 motorway north of Dundalk in County Louth.The road is long.-Quality of Road:...
. The first castle (now in ruin) is believed to have been built in 1181
1181 in Ireland
-Events:Walter de Riddlesford built a motte and bailey fortress on the site of what is now Kilkea Castle in County Kildare....
by Hugh de Lacy
De Lacy
de Lacy is the surname of an old Norman noble family originating from Lassy . The first records are about Hugh de Lacy . Descendent of Hugh de Lacy left Normandy and travelled to England along with William the Conqueror. Walter and Ilbert de Lacy fought in the battle of Hastings...
the Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
, Lord of Meath for his brother-in-law, Sir Gilbert de Nugent. Sir Gilbert De Nugent originally from Nogent-le-Rotrou
Nogent-le-Rotrou
Nogent-le-Rotrou is a commune in the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France.It is a sub-prefecture and is located on the Huisne River, 56 kilometres west of Chartres on the RN23 and 150 kilometres south west of Paris, to which it is linked by both rail and motorway...
area France, came to Ireland with Hugh de Lacy in 1171
1171 in Ireland
-Events:*Death of Dermot MacMurrough.*Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke becomes lord of Leinster.*Henry II of England arrives in Ireland.*Submission of Irish bishops and most Irish kings....
. Gilbert settled on some land in Delvin and was granted the title Baron of Delvin.
The ruins of Nugent Castle remain near the center of the city. In 1639
1639 in Ireland
-Events:Richard Nugent build Clonyn Castle overlooking Delvin, County Westmeath...
Richard Nugent, 1st Earl of Westmeath
Richard Nugent, 1st Earl of Westmeath
Richard Nugent, 1st Earl of Westmeath was an Irish nobleman and politician of the early seventeenth century. Imprisoned for plotting against the Crown in 1607, he soon obtained a pardon and thereafter was regarded as a reliable supporter of the Government...
build another more recent castle, situated on the dominating ground, and now overlooking Delvin urbanised area today, may be referred to as either Delvin or Clonyn Castle.
In the post World War II period, the castle served briefly as a home for 97 Jewish children, most of them orphans of the Holocaust.
A golf course open to the public lies behind the more recent castle, 500m from Delvin centre.
Other Westmeath Castles
- Ballinlough CastleBallinlough CastleSituated in an area of County Westmeath, near the rural town of Clonmellon is Ballinlough Castle. This old castle is perched upon a hill overlooking two of the Westmeath lakes. The 17th century castle is the home of Sir Nicholas and Lady Nugent....
- Killua CastleKillua CastleKillua Castle, and the nearby Raleigh Obelisk, are situated near Clonmellon town, in north County Westmeath. The castle and the obelisk are separated by some 200 m to 300m, and belonged to the Chapman family more than two centuries ago, beginning with Captain Benjamin Chapman, patriarch of the...
- Knockdrin CastleKnockdrinKnockdrin is an area north of Mullingar, in County Westmeath, Ireland. It is home of the Westmeath Hunt, and its most notable building is Knockdrin Castle.-Castle:...
- Tyrrellspass CastleTyrrellspass CastleTyrrellspass Castle, dating back to circa 1411, is situated in the town of Tyrrellspass, Co. Westmeath, on the west side of the village. It is the only remaining castle of the Tyrrells, who came to Ireland around the time of the Norman Invasion....
- Tullynally CastleTullynally CastleTullynally Castle is a castle situated some 2km from Castlepollard on the Coole village road in County Westmeath, Ireland. The famous British Army general, Sir Edward Pakenham GCB, was born and raised in the house...