Enniscorthy Castle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Enniscorthy Castle
Native name Caisleán Inis Córthaidh
Location	Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland
Built	1199–1203
Architect	Norman origin & design
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Enniscorthy Castle is a cool old castle located in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland. It was started way back in the late 1190s. The first Norman owners moved in around 1203 AD. Before that, there was a wooden castle on the same spot! A knight named Philip De Prendergast built this stone castle.

Castle's Story

The first stone castle was built in the 1190s. It was built by an Anglo-Norman knight named Philip De Prendergast and his wife Maud. Philip, Maud, and their family lived in the castle for many years. They stayed there until the 1370s.

Changing Hands

In the 1370s, Art MacMurrough Kavanagh attacked Enniscorthy Castle. He wanted to get back his family's old land. Art won the battle and took the castle from the last Norman owner. His family, the MacMurrough Kavanaghs, then owned the castle until 1536. They gave the castle and land to Lord Leonard Grey. At this time, the castle was in bad shape because it hadn't been looked after well.

In 1569, the Earl of Kildare partly burned the castle.

New Owners and Uses

In 1581, Queen Elizabeth I gave the land to a poet named Edmund Spenser. But he never actually lived there. Later, during a time when new people were settling in Ireland, the castle was owned by Sir Henry Wallop. He made the castle much bigger and fixed it up.

The castle was later taken over by Cromwellian forces in 1649. These were soldiers loyal to Oliver Cromwell. Irish groups and those loyal to the king took it back, but then lost it to the Cromwellians again.

The castle was even used as a prison during the 1798 Rebellion. First, Irish rebels called the 'United Irishmen' used it. Then, the British used it after they took back Enniscorthy town.

A Family Home and Museum

In 1903, Enniscorthy Castle became a private home for the Roche family. They rented it until they moved out in 1951. After that, it became the home of the Wexford County Museum.

The castle closed for big repairs in 2006. It opened its doors again in 2011.

Today, Enniscorthy Castle helps visitors learn about the castle's history. It also shows how the town of Enniscorthy grew from its early French-Norman beginnings. The castle also has displays about the Roche family, who were its last residents. There's also a small exhibit about Enniscorthy's history of industries and businesses.

Castle Design

The castle is located at the start of the River Slaney, right in the middle of Enniscorthy town. It's a Norman castle, which means it has four towers at each corner. It also has a tall, rectangular main building that is four stories high.

The very first castle foundation here was from the late 1100s or early 1200s. However, the castle you see today was updated in the late 1500s. Enniscorthy Castle looks similar to other castles nearby, like the Norman Ferns Castle and Carlow Castle. By the early 1900s, the castle was falling apart. P.J. Roche fixed it up and made it bigger.

Wexford County Museum

For many years, the castle was where the Wexford County Museum was located. The castle closed for a major renovation in 2006. During this time, the museum's collections were looked after by the local government. Enniscorthy Castle reopened in 2011.

Today, the museum inside the castle teaches about the castle's own history and how the town grew. It especially focuses on the castle as a family home. Some of the old items from the original Wexford County Museum are also on display.

First Flight Plaque

There is a special plaque within the castle grounds. It remembers the first flight across the Irish Sea by Denys Corbett-Wilson. You can find more details about it online here.