Burt Castle facts for kids
Burt Castle is an old, ruined castle in County Donegal, Ireland. It stands near the villages of Newtowncunningham and Burt. People sometimes called it Birt Castle in the past. It's also known as O'Doherty's Castle. Make sure not to confuse it with O'Doherty's Keep in Buncrana!
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Building Burt Castle
Burt Castle was built in the 1500s. This was during the time of King Henry VIII of England. The castle was a strong home for the O'Doherty clan. It helped protect the southern part of their land, called Inishowen.
The castle's design was special. It looked a lot like "Z-plan" castles from Scotland. These castles had a main tower with two smaller towers on opposite corners. This style was later used for many buildings during the Ulster Plantation.
Burt Castle During the Nine Years' War
In 1600, there was a disagreement over who should lead the O'Doherty family. The English Governor of Derry, Sir Henry Docwra, supported a young man named Sir Cahir O'Doherty. Cahir was only fifteen years old at the time.
Cahir O'Doherty wanted to be free from the rule of Red Hugh O'Donnell. So, he fought alongside the English during the Nine Years' War. He was even knighted for being very brave. Burt Castle was super important during this war. It controlled a key area. This allowed Sir Henry Docwra to bring in food and launch attacks against O'Donnell. About one hundred soldiers, led by Captain John Vaughan, were stationed at the castle.
O'Doherty's Rebellion at Burt Castle
After the war, Sir Cahir O'Doherty remained loyal to the English Crown. But in 1608, he had a disagreement with the new Governor of Derry. This led Cahir O'Doherty to start a rebellion. Burt Castle became his main base.
In April, the city of Derry was burned. This event started what is known as O'Doherty's Rebellion. The government in Dublin sent soldiers to take back O'Doherty's lands in Inishowen. After a siege, they captured Burt Castle. They also freed prisoners who had been taken from Derry and held there. Soon after, O'Doherty was killed at the Battle of Kilmacrennan. His rebellion quickly ended.
Later History of Burt Castle
During the Williamite War, Burt Castle saw more action. There was a small fight between soldiers who supported King James II and troops loyal to King William III. These troops were under the command of General Percy Kirke.
