Mannan Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mannan Castle |
|
|---|---|
| Native name Irish: Caisleán Dhomhnach Maighean |
|
| Manann Castle | |
Edge of the motte, overgrown with vegetation
|
|
| Type | motte-and-bailey |
| Location | Donaghmoyne, Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, Ireland |
| Area | Farney |
| Height | 12.5 m (41 ft) |
| Built | 1193 |
| Owner | public |
| Official name: Mannan Castle | |
| Reference no. | 382 |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
Mannan Castle is an old castle site in County Monaghan, Ireland. It is a special type of castle called a motte-and-bailey. Today, it is a protected National Monument. You can find it in Donaghmoyne, on the grounds of the Mannan Castle Golf Club.
Contents
Where is Mannan Castle?
Mannan Castle is located on the Mannan Castle Golf Club. It sits on a sunny hillside. This hill is part of a drumlin ridge made of limestone. The castle is about 3 kilometers (about 2 miles) northeast of Carrickmacross.
History of Mannan Castle
People believe this spot was once a very important place. It might have been the ancient capital of a kingdom called Airgíalla (also known as Oriel). This kingdom started a long time ago, even before Christianity.
Building the First Castle
In 1193, a powerful family called the Pipards built a castle here. They were Anglo-Normans, who were people from France and England who came to Ireland. They wanted to control this area. Their first castle was made of wood.
The Pipards didn't choose this spot just for fighting. They picked it because it was a famous old Irish capital. Building their castle there showed everyone that the Normans were now in charge of Ireland.
Changes Over Time
Later, in 1227, the Pipard lands were given to a man named Ralph fitz Nicholas. He started making Mannan Castle stronger. But in 1230, Irish people burned the wooden castle down. So, in 1244, a new castle made of stone was built in its place.
Local Legends
There are some cool local stories about Mannan Castle. One legend says that animal blood was mixed into the mortar (the glue that holds stones together). Because of this, no one can ever remove a stone from the wall! Another story says the castle's name comes from a druid (an ancient Celtic priest) named Manann. However, the name actually comes from an old Irish word, maighean, which means "of the plain."
Archaeological Finds
The first study of the castle site happened in 1910. Later digs found many interesting things. They discovered lots of iron slag (waste from making iron), pottery, iron nails, and tools for working with iron. These items were found in the southern part of the castle's outer area.
What the Castle Looks Like
Mannan Castle has a large mound called a motte. This mound is about 12.5 meters (about 41 feet) high. Next to the motte is an inner bailey, which is a protected courtyard. A raised path, called a causeway, connects them. There is also an outer bailey, which is another open area. On top of the motte, you can still see the stone ruins of a keep. A keep was the strongest tower in a castle.
