Knappogue Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Knappogue Castle |
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| Caisleán na Cnapóige | |
| County Clare, Ireland | |
Knappogue Castle
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 Knappogue Castle
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| Coordinates | 52°47′38″N 8°49′54″W / 52.793919°N 8.831597°W |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Shannon Heritage |
| Open to the public |
yes |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1467 |
| Built by | Seán Mac Conmara (MacNamara) |
Knappogue Castle (in Irish: Caisleán na Cnapóige) is an old tower house in County Clare, Ireland. It was first built in 1467 and later made bigger in the mid-1800s. Today, the castle has been fixed up and you can take guided tours to explore it.
Contents
About Knappogue Castle
Building a Stronghold
Knappogue Castle was built in 1467 by a man named Seán Mac Conmara. His family was known as MacNamara. The castle is a great example of a "tower house," which was a common type of strong home built in Ireland during the Middle Ages. The name "Knappogue" means "castle of the place with little hills."
A Family's Home
In 1571, Knappogue Castle became the main home for a branch of the MacNamara family. They were called the Earls of West Clancullen. A leader named Donnchadh Mac Conmara kept the castle in his family's hands during the Irish wars of the 1640s.
Changes in Ownership
After a period of war when England took control of Ireland, the castle was taken from the MacNamaras. A man named Arthur Smith, who supported the English leader Oliver Cromwell, lived in the castle from 1659 to 1661.
However, when the king returned to power in 1660, Knappogue Castle was given back to the MacNamara family. Later, in 1800, Francis MacNamara sold the castle to the Scott family. The Scotts did a lot of work to fix up and expand the castle.
New Owners and Big Changes
In 1855, the castle was bought by Theobold Fitzwalter Butler, who was the 14th Baron Dunboyne. It became the main home for his family. They continued the restoration work, adding new rooms like a drawing-room and a long room. They also added a west wing, which included a clock tower and a grand gateway. Two architects, James Pain and his brother George Richard Pain, designed these changes.
A Place of History
During the Irish War of Independence (1919–1921), Knappogue Castle played an important role. The local government of Clare County held their meetings there. They were protected by a group of Irish fighters known as the East Clare Flying Column. Michael Brennan, who led these fighters, also used the castle as his main base during this time.
Saving the Castle
In 1927, the land around Knappogue was bought by the Irish government, and the Quinn family owned the castle itself. Then, in 1966, an American man named Mark Edwin Andrews bought the castle and its lands. He had been a high-ranking official in the United States Navy.
Mr. Andrews and his wife, Lavonne, who was an architect, worked with Irish tourism groups to restore the castle. Around 1969, they carefully brought much of the castle back to how it looked in the 1400s. They also made sure to keep the newer parts that showed how the castle had been used over time. Their goal was to use the castle as a restaurant and a private home. The Andrews family later let the Irish government use part of the castle for cultural events and tourism at a very low cost.
Knappogue Castle Today
Today, Shannon Development owns Knappogue Castle, having bought it in 1996. The castle is now a popular place for weddings and special medieval banquets. You can also take guided tours to learn about its long history.
The Castle Gardens
The castle also has beautiful gardens that were first created in 1817. These gardens have been restored to their original beauty. The garden walls are now covered with climbing roses, grapevines, and many different types of clematis flowers.
Knappogue Castle Whiskey
There is even a type of Irish whiskey named "Knappogue Castle." It is made by the Castle Brands company, using whiskey from the Bushmills company.
