Altinaghree Castle facts for kids
Altinaghree Castle, also known as Liscloon House, is an old, ruined castle near Donemana in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. People in the area often call it Ogilby's Castle. It is thought that a man named William Ogilby built this large castle around 1860.
What is Ogilby's Castle?
Altinaghree Castle is a ruined building located on private farmland. It is found outside Donemana, which is south of Londonderry in County Tyrone.
This castle has a few different names. Besides Altinaghree Castle, it is also called Altnacree Castle and Liscloon House. The local name, Ogilby's Castle, is very common. It was once a grand and beautiful building with a huge room for banquets, which are big fancy dinners. Today, however, it is mostly in ruins. The castle was built using carefully shaped stones.
Can You Visit the Castle?
The castle stands on private land. This means it is not open for people to visit inside. However, you can still see and take pictures of the castle from the main road. This road is called the Dunamanagh – Claudy Road, also known as the B49.
The Castle's Story
The story of Altinaghree Castle begins around 1860. It is believed that William Ogilby was the one who built it. His son, James Douglas Ogilby, later became a famous expert on fish, known as an ichthyologist, in Australia.
James fell in love with a factory worker named Mary Jane Jamieson. However, he was not allowed to marry her because she was Catholic. In 1884, they decided to run away and get married anyway. James then moved to Australia. He started working at the Australian Museum in 1885. After this, the castle was left empty by the end of the 1800s and slowly began to fall apart.
See Also
- List of castles in Northern Ireland
