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| Moygara Castle, Co. Sligo |
Moygara Castle dates mainly from the late 16th or early 17th
century. Lough Gara and the nearby castle are named after the O’Gara family who
ruled the area around the lake since 1285 AD. The O’Garas built three castles
in the area, the main one was at Moygara built on the NW corner of Lough Gara.
It is a square-walled structure with a tower at each corner.
The main gate and remains of the portcullis are located on the west wall. The
four corner-towers are similar in plan and layout but the SW tower stands to
three storeys high whereas the other three are only two storeys. All the door
and window frames and lintels were made of wood although none of these survive
today. The oldest part of the castle is a ruined rectangular structure which
may have been an earlier tower house. The walls are recessed 11 feet from the
face of the towers and stand 15 ft. high and 4 ft. thick and are loop-holed for
the use of firearms.
The original territories of the O’Garas consisted of part of
the Barony of Leyney in Co. Sligo. They were driven out of their territory by
the Anglo-Norman families of the Nangles (later Costelloe) and the Jordans. Later,
they moved to what was known as the Sliabh Luagh district of Co. Mayo. This
area included the parishes of Kilkelly, Kilmovee, Kilbea, Kilcolman and
Castlemore. The O’Garas finally settled in Coolavin.
In May 1169, Anglo-Norman mercenaries landed in Ireland at
the request of Diarmait Mac Murchada (Dermot MacMurragh), the overthrown King
of Leinster, who had sought their help in regaining his kingdom. This military intercession
had the backing of King Henry II of England. Pope Adrian IV - the only English
Pope - had authorized Henry to conquer Ireland as a means of bringing the Irish
church into line. In the summer of 1170, there were two further Anglo-Norman
landings, led by Richard 'Strongbow' de Clare.
In October 1171, King Henry landed a large army in Ireland
to establish control over both the Anglo-Normans and the Irish. The Norman
lords handed their conquered territory to Henry. Many Irish kings also surrendered
to him, in the hope that he would curb Norman expansion.
The largely successful nature of the invasion has been
attributed to a number of factors. These include the Anglo-Normans' alleged
military superiority and programme of castle-building; the lack of a unified
opposition from the Irish; and the Church's support for Henry's intervention.
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| An early drawing of the castle (1786) |
In the 16th Century, Moygara Castle was the home of Fergal
O’Gara. He is famous as the patron of Fr. O’Cleary and his colleagues who
compiled “The Annals of the Four Masters”. He died sometime around 1660 and is said to
have had at least three sons, John, Cian, Charles and, possibly, a fourth named
Bernard. John O’Gara’s son, Fergal’s grandson, Oliver, held the rank of
Lieutenant in Viscount Montgomery’s Regiment of Foot in 1686.
Oliver had hoped for the restoration of his lands under
James II. He raised a regiment known as “O’Gara’s Infantry” and served with
distinction at the Battle of Aughrim. Following the defeat of the Jacobite
cause and the Treaty of Limerick, Oliver left for the continent. He rose to the
rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the French army and was appointed Governor of
Montega in Spain in 1705. He died there some years later. Another grandson of Fergal’s, Charles, settled in Co. Mayo.
He had at least two sons, Bernard and Michael, both of whom became Archbishops
of Tuam, Co. Galway.
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| Moygara Castle - Corner Tower |
In 1538, Manus O’Donnell, having captured the Castle of
Sligo and savaged Moylurg, took the Castle of Moygara. As his army was
approaching the walls a ball fired from inside the castle killed his son. In
1581, the Castle was the scene of an even greater tragedy. A body of mercenary
Scots in the service and pay of Captain Malby, Governor of Connaught, burned
the building and Diarmuid Og, son of Cian O’Gara, was put to death.
The Anglo-Norman invasion was a defining moment in the
history of Ireland, marking the beginning of more than 700 years of direct
English and, later, British involvement in Ireland. Today, the ruins of Moygara
Castle stand as testament to a turbulent time in Irish history.
http://www.moygaracastle.com/
http://www.moygaracastle.com/
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