Dunboy Castle facts for kids

Dunboy Castle (Irish: Caisleán Dhún Baoi) is a ruined castle found on the Beara Peninsula in the southwest of Ireland. It's close to the town of Castletownbere. This castle was once a very important stronghold for the O'Sullivan Bere family. They were powerful Gaelic clan leaders, and the 'Chief of Dunboy' lived here. The castle was built to protect the nearby harbour of Berehaven.

Having the castle meant the O'Sullivan Bere family could control the fishing in the Irish seas. They also collected taxes from Irish and European fishing boats that used the safe harbour. It was a busy place for trading goods with other countries too. Today, much of the castle is in ruins, but you can still visit and explore what's left.

What is Dunboy Castle?

Dunboy Castle is an old, ruined fortress in County Cork, Ireland. It was built a long time ago by a powerful Irish family, the O'Sullivan Beres. This family was very important in their area. The castle was more than just a home; it was a strong base that helped them control their land and the sea around it.

Why Was Dunboy Castle Important?

Dunboy Castle was built for several key reasons:

• Protecting the Harbour: Its main job was to guard Berehaven harbour. This was a safe place for ships to dock.
• Controlling Fisheries: The O'Sullivan Bere family used the castle to control the rich fishing waters nearby. They could collect money from fishing boats.
• Trade Hub: The castle was also a centre for buying and selling goods with other countries. This made the O'Sullivan Bere family very wealthy and powerful.

The Great Siege of Dunboy

Dunboy Castle is famous for a big battle called the Siege of Dunboy. This happened in the summer of 1602. At this time, Donal Cam O'Sullivan Bere was in a conflict with the English crown. Queen Elizabeth I of England sent a large army of 5,000 soldiers to stop him. This army was led by Sir George Carew.

What Happened During the Siege?

Even though Dunboy Castle had only 143 defenders, it was thought to be very strong and hard to capture. But the English army used powerful cannons to attack the castle walls. After a fierce bombardment, the walls were broken. The battle then turned into desperate hand-to-hand fighting among the ruins. The defenders fought bravely, but after two weeks, they were finally defeated. The battle was very tough, and sadly, the remaining defenders were overcome, marking the end of the O'Sullivan Bere's power.

Puxley Mansion: A Nearby Story

Close to the castle ruins, you can see Puxley Mansion. This is a large house built in the 1800s. In 1920, it was burned by the IRA during a time of conflict. Some work was done in the 2000s to fix up the mansion. There were plans to turn it into a hotel, but these plans stopped because of money problems.

Images for kids

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  Remains of Dunboy castle

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  View inland from Dunboy castle

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  Plaque on castle wall. Translation from Irish: 'In memory of the heroes who fell in Dunboy on behalf of country and faith in June 1602. May their souls rest in peace.'