Castle Carra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Castle Carra |
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| Native name Irish: Caisleán Cheara |
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| Type | hall house |
| Location | Castlecarra, Carnacon, County Mayo, Ireland |
| Built | 13th century |
| Owner | State |
| Official name: Castlecarra | |
| Reference no. | 222B |
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Imagine stepping back in time to a strong stone building! Castle Carra is an old, special type of castle called a hall house. It's found in County Mayo, Ireland, and is protected as a National Monument because of its history.
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Where is Castle Carra Located?
Castle Carra is about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) west of a village called Carnacon. It sits right on the eastern side of Lough Carra, a beautiful lake. The castle is even near the deepest part of the lake, known as the Black Hole!
The History of Castle Carra
Who Built Castle Carra?
Castle Carra was built way back in the 1200s, during the 13th century. It was constructed by a man named Adam de Staunton. He was an Anglo-Norman, which means he was from a powerful family that came to Ireland from England and France. Adam worked for the important de Burgo family.
How the Castle Grew and Changed
Over time, other parts were added to the castle. The MacEvilly (Mac an Mhilidh) family added the plinth (a base for the building), a bawn (a strong wall around the castle), and some other buildings and gates.
Castle Carra and the Crown
In the 1570s, the castle was given to the English Crown (the government led by the King or Queen). It was then given to Captain William Bowen. He made the bawn even stronger by adding a round tower with special openings called gunloops. These gunloops allowed defenders to fire weapons safely from inside.
New Owners and Later Years
Later, in the early 1600s, during a time when England was taking control of more land in Ireland, Sir Roebuck Lynch lost his lands. He was given Castle Carra as a replacement. In the 1660s, the castle passed to Sir Henry Lynch, 3rd Baronet. His family owned Castle Carra for a long time, right up until the 1800s.
What Does Castle Carra Look Like?
Castle Carra is a rectangular building. It's known as a hall house because its main feature is a large hall, which was the central living and gathering space for the people who lived there.
