Mongavlin Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mongavlin Castle |
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| Near Lifford, County Donegal in Ireland | |
Mongavlin Castle in June 2013
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 Mongavlin Castle
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| Coordinates | 54°54′15″N 07°27′12″W / 54.90417°N 7.45333°W |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Ruin |
Mongavlin Castle, also known as Mongevlin Castle, is a castle ruin. It stands on the west bank of the River Foyle. This is about 3 kilometers (2 miles) south of St Johnston. The castle is in County Donegal, Ireland. It used to be a strong home for the O'Donnell family. They were powerful lords of Tyrconnell.
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The Castle's Early Story
In the 1500s, Mongavlin Castle was the main home of Ineen Dubh. She was the daughter of James MacDonald. Ineen Dubh was also the mother of Red Hugh O'Donnell. A government paper from that time described her living there. It said Mongavlin was her main house.
When Ineen Dubh came to Ireland, she married Aodh mac Maghnusa Ó Domhnaill. He was also known as Sir Hugh O'Donnell. She brought 100 strong men from Scotland with her. These soldiers were her personal bodyguards. Eighty of them belonged to the Clan Crawford. When the O'Donnell family later left Mongavlin, the Crawfords stayed. They settled and married into the local families. Many people in the area today are descendants of these Crawford soldiers.
Trouble and New Owners
In April 1608, a big event happened. It was after the Flight of the Earls in 1607. Sir Cahir O'Doherty was the last Gaelic Lord of Inishowen. He was angry because his lands were taken away. These lands were used for the Plantation of Ulster. Sir Cahir led a rebellion and attacked the city of Derry.
While attacking Derry, Sir Cahir sent Sir Niall Garve O'Donnell to Lifford Castle. Niall Garve was supposed to stop English soldiers. These soldiers might try to send help to Derry. But Niall Garve wanted to be closer to the action. He hoped to get a good share of the treasures from Derry. So, he went to Mongavlin Castle instead. He forced Ineen Dubh out of her home.
Niall Garve then started taking things from the local area. When Sir Cahir heard about this, he was very upset. Sir Cahir then forced Niall Garve out of Mongavlin. He gave the castle back to Ineen Dubh. Sir Cahir eventually attacked and burned Derry. He also killed the governor, Sir George Paulet. Soon after these events, the O'Donnell family left the castle. This was because of fighting within their own clan.
Building a Stronger Castle
The castle ruins you see today were built later. Sir John Stewart of Methven built them. He was a son of the Duke of Lennox. Sir John was also in charge of Dumbarton Castle. But he was found guilty of being cruel.
A survey in 1619 described the new castle. Captain Nicholas Pynnar wrote that Sir John Stewart built a very strong castle. It had a tower at each corner. There was a special stone over the main archway. It had the letters 'J.S.-E.S.T.-1619' carved into it. This stone went missing in the early 1700s.
However, another survey in 1622 told a different story. It said the castle was not fully finished in 1619. It described a castle made of stone and lime. It was 50 feet by 25 feet and three and a half stories tall. The roof was slated. It had four towers at the top. There was also an iron door like a portcullis. The main wooden beams were in place, but the floors were not boarded. The iron window grates were inside the castle, ready to be put up.
Later Owners and Royal Visits
Ludovic Stewart, 2nd Duke of Lennox received Mongavlin Castle. He also got 1,000 acres of land. This was given to him by a royal order on July 23, 1610. When Ludovic died in 1624, his brother Esmé Stewart, 3rd Duke of Lennox inherited the castle.
Esmé married Katherine Clifton in 1609. They had eleven children. After Esmé died in 1624, Katherine married James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Abercorn. This was around 1632. Later, James Hamilton, 6th Earl of Abercorn, put up a plaque. He did this in 1704 to honor his mother, Elizabeth Hamilton.
James II of England visited Mongavlin Castle in 1690. He was on his way to the siege of Derry. From the castle, he sent a letter. In it, he asked the people of Derry to surrender. But they refused his offer.
Today, the castle is mostly in ruins. Only a small part of it is still standing.
