Dunamase facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dunamase |
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| Native name Dún Másc | |
View of the Castle
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| Location | County Laois, Ireland |
| Built | c. 9th century |
Dunamase or The Rock of Dunamase (Irish: Dún Másc, meaning "fort of Másc") is a famous rocky hill in County Laois, Ireland. It stands about 46 meters (150 feet) above the flat land around it. On top of this rock are the old ruins of Dunamase Castle. This castle was a strong fort built a long time ago by the Normans. From the castle, you can see amazing views all the way to the Slieve Bloom Mountains. The Rock of Dunamase is close to the N80 road, between the towns of Portlaoise and Stradbally.
Contents
The Story of Dunamase Castle
Ancient Times at the Rock
People first lived on the Rock of Dunamase around the 9th century. This was when a "hill fort" was built there. A hill fort was a protected settlement, often on a high place, to keep people safe. The first known settlement was called Dun Masc, or "Masc’s Fort."
In 842, Vikings attacked this early Christian settlement. A few years later, in 845, Vikings from Dublin attacked again. An important abbot (a leader of a monastery) named Aed was killed there during this attack. After these events, there isn't much clear evidence of people living at Dunamase during the 10th and 11th centuries.
When Normans Came to Ireland
The stone castle we see today was built in the second half of the 12th century. This was around the time the Normans arrived in Ireland. Dunamase became a very important Norman fort in the area of Laois.
A famous story tells how Dermot Mac Morrough, who was the King of Leinster, brought the wife of O'Rourke (the King of Breifne) to Dunamase after taking her. The O'Rourkes and O'Connors then teamed up and drove Mac Morrough away from Dunamase. He had to leave Ireland.
To get his lands back, Mac Morrough made a deal with a powerful Norman leader named Strongbow (Richard de Clare). As part of this deal, Mac Morrough gave Dunamase and his daughter, Aoife, in marriage to Strongbow in 1170. Strongbow then came to Ireland with many men to help Mac Morrough. This event was a big part of the Norman invasion of Ireland.
Who Owned the Castle?
After Strongbow and Aoife married, their daughter, Isabel, inherited the castle. She married into the Marshal family. William Marshal, who was a very important person in England, owned Dunamase for a time. He had five sons, but none of them had children. So, in 1247, the Marshal lands were divided among William's five daughters.
Dunamase then went to Eva Marshal, and later to her daughter, Maud. Maud was married to Roger Mortimer. The castle stayed with the Mortimer family until 1330. At this time, another Roger Mortimer was accused of treason and executed. After this, the castle seems to have fallen out of Norman control. By about 1350, it was likely already a ruin.
What Happened Next?
By the 16th century, the O'More family owned the land where the castle stood. However, the castle was not used during the Cromwellian wars in the mid-1600s. In 1650, the castle was "slighted." This means it was deliberately damaged so that no enemy could use it as a fort.
Later, in the late 1700s, a man named Sir John Parnell tried to build a large banqueting hall within the castle ruins. He even used old stone pieces from other medieval buildings nearby for his project.
