Millmount Fort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Millmount |
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| Former names | Richmond Barracks |
| Alternative names | Cup and Saucer |
| General information | |
| Type | Fortification |
| Address | Millmount |
| Town or city | Drogheda |
| Country | Ireland |
| Construction started | 12th Century CE |
| Owner | Old Drogheda Society |
Millmount is a large, strong fort built on a big hill. It sits on the south side of the River Boyne in Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland. This fort has been a very important place throughout Drogheda's history. It was there when the Normans arrived, during a famous battle with Oliver Cromwell, and even during the Irish Civil War in 1922.
Today, Millmount is home to the Millmount Museum. This museum is filled with amazing old items from the local area and from Ireland's past. Millmount is easy to spot from almost anywhere in Drogheda. Locals sometimes call its round tower "The Cup and Saucer." The entire fort is a national monument and a special cultural area for Drogheda.
Contents
Millmount's Long History
People have built forts here since the early 1100s. The Normans, who invaded Ireland, built a motte and bailey fort around 1172. A motte and bailey was a simple castle with a mound (motte) and a walled yard (bailey). This fort was likely built on an even older site. Some people believe it was once a passage grave, like the famous Newgrange.
Norman Fort to Stone Castle
Hugh De Lacy, a Norman leader, built the first fort around 1172. He was given the area of Meath by King Henry II. Later, a strong stone castle was built on the same spot. This castle was a key part of Drogheda's defenses.
The Siege of Drogheda
The castle played a big role during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland in 1649. This was when Oliver Cromwell and his army attacked Drogheda. The English soldiers defending the fort tried to surrender to Cromwell's troops. However, they were defeated on September 11, 1649.
Richmond Barracks and the Martello Tower
The complex was later known as Richmond Barracks. Some of the buildings you see today in the courtyard were built around 1714. After a period of unrest and rebellions in the late 1700s, the fort was made stronger. The famous round tower, called a Martello tower, was built around 1808.
Millmount in the Irish Civil War
Millmount was badly damaged during the Irish Civil War. This war happened after Ireland gained independence from Britain. On July 4, 1922, soldiers from the Anti-Treaty forces were holding the fort. The army of the Irish Free State attacked it.
The Free State soldiers, led by Michael Collins, used a powerful artillery gun. This was the same gun that had shelled another important building in Dublin days earlier. The Free State army fired at Millmount for several hours. The Republican soldiers inside eventually left the fort. Millmount was repaired in 2000 and is now open for visitors.
Millmount Museum: Explore History
The Millmount Museum has many interesting items. These artifacts are important to both local and national history. One of the most special collections is the unique group of Guild and Trade Banners. These banners are recognized by Ireland's National Museum as very important. They are the only remaining guild banners in Ireland.
Other popular exhibits at the Millmount Museum include:
- An old Irish folk kitchen from the 1700s.
- A dairy and laundry room, showing how people lived long ago.
- The Irish History Room, which tells the story of major events in Ireland's past.
Buildings at Millmount
The Millmount complex has many different buildings from various time periods. These include:
- The old Town Wall, from around the 1200s.
- The Martello Tower, built in 1808.
- Several Barrack Buildings, which were used to house soldiers. Some of these date back to 1714, while others were built in the 1800s.
- The Governor's House, likely built in the late 1700s or early 1800s.
Gallery
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Millmount Fort overlooks the town of Drogheda below
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Governor's House
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Reenactors ("86th Regiment of Foot") at the fort
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Reenactors ("Royal Artillery") at Millmount
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Cannon fire at Millmount
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View of Drogheda's south side
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Millmount Fort as viewed from the Visitor Centre
