Ross Castle Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Ross Castle
Native name Irish: Caisleán an Rois

Area	Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland
Built	15th century
Built for	O'Donoghue family
Architectural style(s)	Tower house and keep
Governing body	Office of Public Works
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Ross Castle (Irish: Caisleán an Rois) is an amazing old castle from the 1400s. It sits right by the beautiful Lough Leane lake in Killarney National Park, County Kerry, Ireland. This castle was once the home of the powerful O'Donoghue family. Later, another family called the Brownes lived there. Today, you can visit Ross Castle! It's looked after by the Office of Public Works and offers fun guided tours during certain times of the year.

History of Ross Castle
How Ross Castle Was Defended
Gallery
See also

History of Ross Castle

Ross Castle was built in the late 1400s. It was made by the O'Donoghues Mór, a very important local family. But during a big fight called the Second Desmond Rebellion in the 1580s, the castle changed hands. It went to the MacCarthy Mór family. They then rented it out to Sir Valentine Browne. His family later became the Earls of Kenmare.

Battles and Prophecies at the Castle

Ross Castle was one of the last places to give up during the Irish Confederate Wars. These wars were fought against Oliver Cromwell's army, known as the Roundheads. The castle was very strong. It was only captured when Cromwell's soldiers brought cannons by boat! They sailed them up the River Laune to the lake.

Lord Muskerry (MacCarthy) defended the castle bravely. He faced Edmund Ludlow and his 4,000 foot soldiers and 200 horsemen. But the attack came from the water. There was an old Irish prophecy about Ross Castle. It said the castle could never be taken until a warship sailed on the lake. This seemed impossible at the time!

Ross may all assault disdain

Till on Lough Lein strange ship shall sail.

Ross Castle in the late 1800s

After the Wars

After the wars ended, the Browne family proved their heir was too young to have joined the rebellion. So, they got their lands back. Around 1688, they built a large house near the castle. However, they supported King James II of England during the Glorious Revolution. This caused them to be sent away from Ireland.

The castle then became a place for soldiers to live, like a military barracks. It stayed that way until the early 1800s. The Brownes never came back to live at Ross Castle. Instead, they built a new home called Kenmare House near Killarney.

The Legend of O'Donoghue

There's a cool legend about the O'Donoghue chieftain. It says he jumped or was pulled out of a high window in the castle. He disappeared into the lake with his horse, his table, and even his books! People say that O'Donoghue now lives in a grand palace at the bottom of the lake. From there, he watches over everything that happens.

How Ross Castle Was Defended

Ross Castle is a great example of castles built by Irish chieftains long ago. It had many features to keep enemies out.

Illustration of Ross Castle inner structure

Basic Castle Structure

The main part of the castle was a tower house. It had square towers called bartizans on opposite corners. These were like small watchtowers. The tower also had a very thick back wall. Around the tower, there was usually a square wall called a bawn. This wall had round towers at each corner for extra defense.

The Front Entrance

The main entrance was a small room. It was protected by a strong iron gate called a 'yett'. This gate could be closed from inside with a chain. Even if the front door was closed, the yett could be locked. This small room also had tiny holes on the sides. Above, there was a "murder-hole". Defenders could drop stones or pour hot liquids through this hole onto anyone stuck in the room.

The actual front door was inside this small room. It was made of two layers of thick Irish oak wood. The wood planks in each layer went in different directions. This made the door super strong and hard to break. If the wood only went one way, it would be easier to split. The door opened inwards and was held shut by two heavy wooden beams. These beams fit into the stone walls.

Castle Windows

The windows on the lower levels were very thin, vertical slits. They were too small for anyone to climb through. But they were perfect for defenders to shoot arrows or guns at attackers outside. The windows on the higher levels were much bigger. This was because people thought attackers couldn't reach those heights. So, larger windows were safe and let in more light.

Machicolations for Defense

Machicolations were stone structures that stuck out from the top of the castle walls. They had a hole in their floor. Ross Castle has two of these. One is above the front door, and the other is on the back wall. The one over the front door was very important. It let defenders drop stones or boiling oil onto attackers trying to get through the only entrance.

Ross Castle from the lake

The Parapet and Battlements

The top of the castle roof had a special wall called a parapet. This wall was 'crenellated'. This means it had high parts, called 'merlons', and low parts, called 'crenels'. Defenders could hide behind the merlons. Then, they could pop up and fire arrows or guns through the crenels at enemies.

Inner Rooms of the Castle

The first floor of the castle was mainly used for storage.

The second floor was where the castle's helpers and guards lived. They often slept on straw spread on the floor. There wasn't usually much furniture.

The third floor was for preparing food. It was also a living and eating area for the helpers and guards.

The fourth floor was the special sleeping and living space for the chieftain and his family. This floor had a strong arched stone roof. This stone roof supported the floor of the fifth story. The lower floors had wooden beam floors.

The fifth floor was the 'great room'. This is where the chieftain ate meals and entertained guests. This room was also the last safe place during an attack. Its stone floor helped stop fires from spreading up from the lower levels.