Carrickabraghy Castle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carrickabraghy Carraig Brachai
Townland
Carrickabraghy Castle, before restoration
Carrickabraghy Location in Ireland
Country	Ireland
Province	Ulster
County	County Donegal
Time zone	UTC+0 (WET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-1 (IST (WEST))
Irish Grid Reference	C398532

Carrickabraghy Castle stands in the townland of Carrickabraghy (Irish: Carraig Brachai). It is on a rocky spot at the very edge of the Isle of Doagh, near Pollan Bay. This area is in the north of Inishowen, a peninsula on the north coast of County Donegal, Ireland. The townland and its castle are part of the Parish of Clonmany in the Barony of Inishowen East. People sometimes call the site 'The Castles'. It is a very important historical place for the local area.

What's in a Name?

The Irish word 'Carraig' means 'rock'. But what 'Bhrachai' means is a bit of a mystery! Some people think it might be an old family name. It is mentioned in old family records from before the Normans arrived. It could be an ancestor of the McFall family.

Another idea is that 'Carraig Bhrachai' means 'The Friars Rock'. This idea comes from a book called Inishowen, Its History, Traditions and Antiquities. So, the name of the castle's location means 'rock', but the second part has a few possible meanings!

A Look Back in Time: History of Carrickabraghy

For hundreds of years, from the 800s to the 1200s, the area of Inishowen was split into three main parts. These parts were called 'tuatha', which means districts. They were Aileach in the south, Bredach to the east, and Carraig Bhrachai to the west.

The leaders of Carraig Bhrachai were from the Ó Maolfabhail family. This family is also known as McFall or Lavelle. They were an important branch of a larger family group called Cineal Eoghain. They ruled from the townland of Carrickabraghy, where the castle now stands. They were one of the most important families in Inishowen.

Early Mentions in History

The earliest historical mentions of Carrickabraghy come from old Irish records called The Annals of the Four Masters. These records show that the Lords of Carrickabraghy were important figures for a long time. They were often involved in battles and were seen as key military leaders. They even fought alongside kings and traveled across the seas for conflicts.

Here are some examples of when the Lords of Carraig Bhrachai were mentioned:

• In 834, a leader named Fearghas, Lord of Carraig Bhrachai, was killed in battle.
• In 857, Sechonnan, King of Carraig Bhrachai, died.
• In 915, the chief of Carraig Bhrachai was killed in a battle against Viking invaders.
• In 1014, Cu Dubh, chief of Carraig Bhrachai, was killed.
• In 1065, Muireartach O Maolfabhail, King of Carraig Bhrachai, was killed.
• In 1102, Sitric O Maolfabhail, King of Carraig Bhrachai, was killed in a surprise attack.
• In 1166, Aodh O Maolfabhail, King of Carraig Bhrachai, was killed by trickery.
• In 1215, Trad O Maolfabhail and many others were killed in Scotland.

After 1215, there are no more mentions of the Lords of Carraig Bhrachai in these historical records.

Vikings and Chiefs

A story tells of a Viking raid on Donegal in the 900s. Three princesses were taken hostage. One princess escaped with stolen treasure. She landed at Carrickabraghy and married a local chief. Even during the time of Viking invasions in Inishowen, the McFall family kept control of Carrickabraghy.

The Castle's Later History

Carrickabraghy is not mentioned again in history books until the year 1600. The castle we see today was likely built around this time. The O Dochartaigh family had become powerful in Inishowen. Sean Og O Dochartaigh was the chief of this family and the Lord of Inishowen.

The English were trying to take control of Ireland. To protect his animals and supplies from English raids, Sean Og decided to store them on The Isle of Doagh. He kept them with his relative, Feilimi Brasleach O Dochartaigh, the Lord of Carraig Bhrachai. This was a good idea because the Isle of Doagh was hard for the English to reach. It could only be accessed when the tide was low.

Sean Og O Dochartaigh died suddenly in 1601. There was a lot of debate about who would become the next Lord of Inishowen. His oldest son, Cathaoir Rua, was too young. Other powerful people wanted their own choice to be the new leader.

Aodh Rua O Donaill, a powerful lord from another area, wanted an experienced leader. He wanted someone who would stay loyal to him. This would keep Inishowen and its resources under his control. He chose Feilim Og, Sean Og's half-brother.

The English commander in Derry, Sir Henry Dowcra, didn't care who became Lord. He just wanted them to agree to English rule. Another leader, Aodh Bui Mac Daibheid, wanted the young Cathaoir to be the next Lord.

In February 1601, Feilim Og became Lord. But his rule didn't last long. Aodh Bui Mac Daibheid used clever talks with both Dowcra and O Donaill. Because of this, Cathaoir Rua O Dochartaigh was made the rightful Lord of Inishowen in May 1601. He was only 14 years old. He would be the last of the great Irish Lords.

Ireland at this time was divided. Different families and groups often fought with each other. The English were just another enemy. The clan rulers mostly wanted to keep their own lands safe.

In May 1601, Aodh Rua O Donaill gathered his army to attack Aodh Bui Mac Daibheid. Aodh Bui was working with the English. It's not clear why Aodh Rua attacked. Maybe he felt tricked after agreeing to make Cathaoir Rua Lord. The battle happened on the sand plain at Pollan on The Isle of Doagh, close to Carrickabraghy Castle. Aodh Rua O Donaill and his forces lost the battle. It was a very bloody fight with many losses.

Cathaoir Rua, or Cahir Roe, was Lord of Inishowen from 1601. But he didn't take full control until he turned 18 in 1605. His rule was peaceful for a while. Then, in 1607, many Irish Earls left Ireland in an event called The Flight of The Earls. The English became suspicious. They thought the Earls might return with an army from Spain to take back their lands. They also thought Cathaoir Rua was part of this plan.

In the autumn of 1607, Cathaoir Rua went to cut wood for building. English spies reported this as Cathaoir Rua getting ready for a rebellion. Cathaoir heard about these suspicions and felt he was in danger. He went into hiding at Carraig Bhrachai Castle. From here, he planned a famous rebellion. This rebellion ended with his death in 1608. He was the last Lord of Inishowen.

Around 1665, Carrickabraghy Castle was left empty. It slowly fell into ruin for many centuries.

Restoration Efforts

In recent years, work has been done to save the castle. A grant from a program called LEADER helped. Also, over €30,000 was raised by local events and supporters. This money allowed the first part of the conservation work to be finished in December 2013.