Rappa Castle facts for kids
Rappa Castle is an old, ruined castle found in Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland. It's a fascinating place with a long history, showing how people lived and how buildings changed over hundreds of years. Today, only parts of the castle remain, standing as a reminder of its past.
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The Story of Rappa Castle
Rappa Castle has a rich history that spans several centuries. It was once owned by important families and played a role in local events.
Early Owners and the Bourke Family
Long ago, Rappa Castle was held by the powerful Bourke family. They were a significant family in the area. Later, during the 1600s, the castle was given to a soldier named Crofton, who was part of Oliver Cromwell's army. This shows how ownership of castles could change hands during times of conflict.
The Knox Family Era
In the 17th century, a man named William Knox, born around 1630, married a member of the Crofton family from Rappa Castle. This marriage brought the castle into the Knox family. They lived there for a very long time, staying at Rappa Castle until the 1920s.
Many generations of the Knox family lived at the castle. For example, Francis Knox, born in 1726, married Mary Gore in 1761. She was the heiress of Rappa, meaning she inherited the property. Francis Knox became the High Sheriff of Mayo, an important local official responsible for law and order.
Later, in 1818, the castle passed to Francis's son, Annesley Gore Knox (1768–1839). He also served as high sheriff in 1825. His eldest son, also named Annesley (1798–1878), became high sheriff in 1829. The castle continued to be passed down through the Knox family for many years.
Life After the Knox Family
The Knox family eventually left Rappa Castle after the Irish War of Independence. This war, which ended in 1921, led to many changes in Ireland. After the Knox family left, William Gillespie took over the castle.
The Gillespie family was quite large, with 13 children! They lived in the castle for some time. However, keeping up with such a large, old building became too difficult and expensive. Because of this, William Gillespie decided to build a new, more modern home for his family. This new house was built right in front of the old castle. The Gillespie family lived in this new house until 2001.
Today, the remains of Rappa Castle still stand behind the house built by William Gillespie. It is recognized as a protected structure, meaning it is important to preserve it for future generations.
Images for kids
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House Built in front of Castle
