Tullykelter Castle facts for kids
Tullykelter Castle is an old castle located in Northern Ireland. It is now mostly in ruins, but it has a long history! Back in 1616, a powerful church leader named Archbishop Malcolm Hamilton, who was connected to Monea Castle, gave some land for this castle to James Somerville and his wife Elizabeth. Elizabeth is thought to be related to Thomas Hamilton of Brimhill. James and Elizabeth had a daughter who later married Captain John, who was the Archbishop's third son.
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What is Tullykelter Castle?
Tullykelter Castle gets its name from the Irish words Tulaigh Chealtchair. It is found in a small area called a townland, which is also named Tullykelter. This area is on a hilltop about a mile southwest of Monea Castle. It is located in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.
Exploring the Castle Ruins
Today, Tullykelter Castle is mostly in ruins. It has a lot of plants and trees growing over it, which makes it hard to explore closely. The castle originally had two main floors. Each floor was about 60 feet long and 20 feet wide on the inside.
Who Lived at Tullykelter Castle?
James Somerville came from a place called Cambusnethan in Ayrshire, Scotland. He and his wife Elizabeth were given the land for Tullykelter Castle.
Land Rules and Agreements
During that time, there were strict rules about who could own and use land. James and Elizabeth Somerville leased some of their land to local Irish people. This went against the agreement they had made when they received the land. Because they broke this rule, the land they leased was taken back by the authorities.
James and Elizabeth Somerville both took an important promise called the Oath of Supremacy. This was a loyalty promise to the King or Queen as the head of the church. However, one person who leased land from them, Daniel Elliot, did not take a similar loyalty promise called the Oath of Allegiance for his job.
