Cahir Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cahir Castle
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| Tipperary Near Cahir in Ireland |
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 Cahir Castle
Location in Ireland
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| Coordinates | 52°22′28″N 7°55′38″W / 52.3745°N 7.9272°W |
| Type | Castle |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Office of Public Works |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | Standing |
| Site history | |
| Built | 13th Century |
| Built by | O'Briens |
| In use | 13th Century-1800s |
| Fate | Preserved |
| Battles/wars | Cromwellian Conquest of Ireland |
| Official name | Cahir Castle |
| Reference no. | 507 |
Cahir Castle (Irish: Caisleán na Cathrach) is one of the biggest castles in Ireland. It sits on an island in the River Suir. A king named Conchobar Ua Briain started building it in 1142. Today, it's in Cahir town, County Tipperary. The castle is very well kept. You can take guided tours and watch shows about its history.
Contents
Building Cahir Castle
The castle was built where an old stone fort, called a cathair, once stood. This old fort gave the castle its name. The main part of the castle was built in the 13th century. The O'Brien family built it. The castle was built in two main sections. The part you see from the street was built first. The section with the audio-visual show was added later.
In the late 1300s, the powerful Butler family took over the castle. They made it bigger and changed parts of it. This happened between the 1400s and 1600s. The castle started to fall apart in the late 1700s. But it was partly fixed up in the 1840s. The Great Hall, a big meeting room, was rebuilt around 1840.
Castle History
In 1375, King Edward III gave the castle to James Butler. He was made the Earl of Ormond for being loyal to the king. His son, also named James, passed down lands around the barony of Iffa and Offa West.
The Butler Family and Conflicts
By 1542, the first of the Barons Cahir was created. This part of the Butler dynasty supported the Roman Catholic Irish. This was different from their relatives who were Anglican.
During the Elizabethan wars, the castle was attacked. In 1599, the army of the Earl of Essex captured it. This happened after a three-day siege. For a year, Sir Charles Blount was in charge of the castle. Lord Cahir later joined with the Earl of Tyrone in 1601. He was accused of being a traitor but later received a full pardon.
In 1627, something important happened at the castle. Lord Cahir's son-in-law, Lord Dunboyne, was involved in a dispute. This dispute led to the death of his distant cousin, James Prendergast. Lord Dunboyne was tried for the killing but was found not guilty.
Sieges and Surrender
During the Irish Confederate Wars, the castle was attacked two more times. In 1647, George Mathew was looking after the young Lord Cahir. He gave up the castle to Murrough O'Brien. O'Brien was a descendant of the castle's first builder.
In 1650, the castle surrendered again. This time it was to Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell was leading his conquest of Ireland. The castle gave up without a fight.
In 1961, the last Lord Cahir passed away. The castle then became the property of the Irish state.
Protecting and Visiting the Castle
In recent times, Cahir Castle was named a National Monument. The Office of Public Works now looks after it. They keep the castle in good condition and offer tours to visitors.
Cahir Castle on Screen
Cahir Castle has been used in many films and TV shows.
- In 1973, parts of the film The Conflict were filmed inside the castle.
- In 1981, a battle scene for the movie Excalibur was filmed here.
- In 1998, the TV show Mystic Knights Of Tir Na Nog used the castle as a location.
- The castle was also a location for the TV series The Tudors.
- In 2019, it was used for the film The Green Knight.
- In 2020, the film The Last Duel also filmed scenes at Cahir Castle.
Gallery
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Exterior of the castle
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Walls and demesne
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Exterior walls
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Cahir para niños
