Where we use photos that do not belong to us, it is because we believe them to be in the public domain or shared under a Creative Commons licence with appropriate attribution. He supported the Stuart monarch Charles I of England and the castle was besieged in 1649 by Oliver Cromwell's forces[1] who sailed gunboats into Strangford Lough and blew up the gatehouse. His grave lies next to Down Cathedral on one of the hills overlooking the town. Lanyon's imposing doorcase was a celebration of Rowan-Hamilton's access through their front door for the first time in almost 200 years. Cranfield Alpacas (alpaca Experiences In The Mournes). By then, the cousins were all dead. Visitor Access, Directions & Contacts On 4th June 1622, James Hamilton was appointed first Viscount Clandeboye. Unfortunately, their only child together died extremely young. It sits on the western side of Strangford Lough, 5 miles north-east of Downpatrick. Killyleagh Castle is a castle in the village of Killyleagh, County Down, Northern Ireland. Killyleagh was settled in the 12th century by Norman knight John de Courcy who built fortifications on the site of the castle in 1180, as part of a series of fortifications around Strangford Lough for protection from the Vikings. However, the views from the castle - especially of Carlingford Lough and the Haulbowline Lighthouse - are perhaps more interesting than the castle, itself. She destroyed the will and had her husband make his own will in 1674, leaving the estate to her. We'd played in Ireland and finished up that leg of the tour at Killyleagh before a gig in Italy. Others think it is the restless and thwarted ghost of her devious daughter-in-law. Hamilton raised a regiment of foot soldiers and calvary in the monarchist cause and set out for Carrickfergus. Have you seen Charlie Chaplin on Joy Street, Belfast? Anne and a few servants and tenants armed themselves as best they could, even using furniture as makeshift weapons to hurl at the surrounding army. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Greencastle Royal Castle (Kilkeel) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Castle entrance, and car park free. [1] The 2nd Earl's castle is mostly what remains today. Ever since, the castle has played home to the Hamilton family. Killyleagh Castle is a castle in the village of Killyleagh, County Down, Northern Ireland. We were on our way to Downpatrick for a scenic train ride and we left the main roadway to find food because the kids were hungry. Hello. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. The village and civil parish of Killyleagh has a population approaching 2,500 and is the largest settlement on the shores of the Lough. The Earl fled, leaving behind his wife and children. Audleystown Court Tomb Archaeological site Audleystown Court Tomb is a Neolithic dual court tomb located in Ballyculter parish, near the southern shore of Strangford Lough in County Down, Northern Ireland. Great view from the towers, on clear days you can see very far from here the coast and thousands of birds. county of Down Henry died of poisoning in 1675, then Lady Alice died in 1677, leaving the estate to her brother. 028 4272 9882 Open . Where: Belfast, Northern Ireland When: 19 th century Style: Neo-Gothic [1] In about 1625 Hamilton moved from Bangor to Killyleagh Castle,[4] where he built the courtyard walls. Lady Alice soon discovered that her father-in-law, the 1st Earl of Clanbrassil, had stated in his will that should Henry die without issue, the estate would be divided between the five Hamilton cousins, the eldest sons of his five uncles. The last to die was James Hamilton of Neilsbrook,County Antrim, son of Archibald Hamilton, the next brother ofJames Hamilton, 1st Viscount Claneboye. The Dublin Probate Court confirmed this Solomon-like disposal. Part six: Three Ulster-Scots Spiritual Revivals, the Death of Montgomery and the "Eagle Wing" sets sail", A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Killyleagh_Castle&oldid=1121195178, This page was last edited on 11 November 2022, at 00:44. Lovely castle to look around. Not surprisingly for a castle, parts of which date back to 1180, Killyleagh has a stormy history involving sieges, wars, suspicious deaths, divided houses and ghostly sightings. The heyday of the castle was in the 15th and 16th centuries when it was administrated by Danish and Swedish kings and stewards of the realms. The turreted castle was originally built by John de Courcy in 1180. Castle entrance, and car park free. Gawn and William had to open a new entrance on the north side in order to enter their castle. Allowed to climb around but be careful of low stone arches or you will get a rather sore bump to your head. However, Lady Anne was still a force to be reckoned with. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. Killyleagh was settled in the 12th century by Norman knight John de Courcy who built fortifications on the site of the castle in 1180,[1] as part of a series of fortifications around Strangford Lough for protection from the Vikings.[2]. The car park is small. It is a private family home, claimed to be the oldest inhabited castle in Ireland. Follow us to get best tips to interesting historic sites! Note that Killyleagh Castle is a private residence and is not open to the public. 24 Feb - 26 Feb. View map. Tourists can also enjoy the city's coffeehouses and sightseeing tours. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. The castle remains an impressive centrepiece, standing in the little village of Killyleagh, dominating the town square. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. The architecture of the castle has no traces of an Irish tower house or castle. Anne received the bawn and gatehouse. In 1602, the Gaelic chieftain known as Con ONeill of Clandeboye owned large tracts of North Down, one of them being Killyleagh. The Baron added Hamilton to his surname just before marrying his distant cousin Hariot Georgina Rowan-Hamilton, daughter of Archibald Rowan-Hamilton, in 1862. O'Neill sent his men to attack English soldiers after a quarrel and was consequently imprisoned. 523527 This is in Plantation Street at the foot of Castle Lane, in the townland of Corporation, town of Killyleagh. Killyleagh is a historic village in County Down, which rests south of Strangford Lough. In order to secure a royal pardon, Con ONeill had to make terms with the new English monarch James I. Shane ONial besieged the newly erected castle in 1567, and meeting with powerful resistance, set fire to the town; but a league being subsequently made between the McCartans and the ONials, they jointly attacked the castle, disposed the family of White, and usurped the uncontrolled dominion of the entire country. The son of Viscount Claneboye, James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Clanbrassil, went forth and built the second tower. Be careful when entering, the driveway was a bit hidden between 2 plots of land. 91% of travellers recommend this experience. He was afterward fined by parliament, for the return of the castle and his land. The Vikings were the scourge of Irish coastal regions from the nineth to the twelfth centuries. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. 2023 SpottingHistory.com. The castle hosts occasional concerts; performers have included Van Morrison, Glen Hansard and Bap Kennedy. It follows the gorgeous architectural style of a Loire Valley chteau and was redesigned by the architect Sir Charles Lanyon. Belfast Entries is a husband & wife hobby website featuring articles on our shared history, memories and entertaining stories of our past. Ralph Mills shot this picture of me & Abe playing at Killyleagh Castle, July 26, 1996. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Henry and Alice had one baby son who died in infancy. Today, the castle is open to the public, and there are many great facilities on-site, such as a visitor centre, a restaurant, and an antique shop; visitors can wander around the interiors of the castle, that has been modelled in the style of the 1920s. We create informative articles about castles and famous historical figures such as kings and queens. In about 1625 Hamilton moved from Bangor to Killyleagh Castle, where he built the courtyard walls. The last to die was James Hamilton of Neilsbrook, County Antrim, son of Archibald Hamilton, the next brother of James Hamilton, 1st Viscount Claneboye. The deal was for ONeills wife to give Montgomery half of ONeills lands if he was able to get a royal pardon for ONeill. Opening Hours The Castle is in private ownership, but can be viewed from the street. Top 20 Belfast Entries posts Have you read them all? 20 years later, the matter was finally concluded when an original copy of the will was discovered. Type: Village with 2,590 residents; Description: . This Norman castle that once guarded the entrance to Carlingford Lough is worth a visit if youre in the Mournes. There are social media sharing icons at the foot of each post. All rights reserved. It has been owned by the Hamilton family since the early 17th century. It has been owned by the exact same family, the Hamiltons, since the early 17th century. In 1602 Gaelic chieftain Con O'Neill of Clandeboye owned large tracts of North Down, including Killyleagh. f you like Belfast Entries and would like to make a small donation towards its running costs please click below: Would you like notifications of new Belfast Entries posts? Given the current cost of living crisis that will impact so many in coming months we have added a page signposting organisations that may be able to offer support. Gunboats sailed up Strangford Lough and destroyed the gatehouse of the castle. The Norman knight John de Courcy built the oldest parts of the structure in 1180. Opening Hours The Castle is in private ownership, but can be viewed from the street. (In later years, 3 cannon balls were extracted from one of the tower walls. The castle is not normally open to the public, but there are some group tours, and the castle is available for weddings and some other special occasions. It is on the A22 road between Belfast and Downpatrick, on the western side of Strangford Lough. Contacts Us/ Feedback Let us know what you think. [2] It has been the home of the Hamilton family ever since. Rome2rio makes travelling from Lisburn to Killyleagh Castle easy. The original Gaelic name for Strangford Lough was Lough Cuan, meaning the quiet lough. There are lawns in the bawn, and steeply terraced gardens to ponds. Excavated items, such as early stove tiles, are on exhibit in the hall. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. The first stone castle, consisting of the western circular tower and as far as just beyond the present hall door (cp. In 1697 the probate court divided the castle, with Gawn and William gaining the main house and the two towers and their niece Anne receiving the bawn and gate house. One into the castle itself and the other out beyond the castle walls. The pier was erected in 1763 and rebuilt by Lord Dufferin in 1832 to cater for the growing traffic on the Lough. Gawn's great-grandson Archibald Hamilton Rowan, an Irish nationalist of the United Irishmen, lived in the castle as one of his homes between 1806 and 1834 after his return from exile in America. This beautiful 200-acre Country Park offers a great day out for visitors of all ages. However, the circumstances of his burial are rather strange. History legend. Frederick St, Killyleagh: Brightons Row , Killyleagh . Viscount Claneboye's son, James Hamilton, 1stEarl of Clanbrassil, built the second tower. We hope you enjoy visiting the website. Dunseverick Castle, The Causeway Coast Saint Patrick, The Vikings, Crusades and Destruction, Galboly The County Antrim Village Lost in Time, Noras Grave A True Story of Love & Death. Killyleagh Castle Killyleagh Northern Ireland, Newry, Mourne and Down. However, ONeill was imprisoned after he sent many of his men to attack English soldiers after a quarrel. However, when there are events at the castle, you are sometimes able to wander close. 94% of travelers recommend this experience. more, Belfast - Giants Causeway , Dunluce Castle and Dark Hedges, Giants Causeway, Rope Bridge, Carrickfergus Castle and Dark Hedges Tour, Game of Thrones and Giant's Causeway Full-Day Tour from Belfast, Giant's Causeway Premium Day Tour from Belfast (Includes Admissions), Belfast Famous Black taxi political mural peace wall tour 2 hour, Guided Day Tour of Giant's Causeway from Belfast by Comfortable Coach, Cab tours belfast famous black taxi tours, A History of Terror - Belfast City Centre Walking Tour, Private Tour to Shankill and Falls Road Murals in Belfast, 2 hours Belfast Original Drivers from The Troubles Black Taxi Tour. Be careful of the low arches and the stone steps. High conical turrets, capped with lead and pricked with finials, rise splendidly through the trees and then, as the road crosses a stream before the town, the castle appears again over the brooding roof tops. Demography. The castle gates are usually kept open so that visitors may admire and take photographs, although a sign does point out that it is a private residence. Every small donation goes a little way towards covering the costs of running the website and helps us keep Belfast Entries running. In the 1920s, the castle came under attack by the Irish Republican Army. The final stone was laid by Lord Dufferin on the morning of his wedding to distant cousin, Miss Harriot Georgina Rowan-Hamilton on 23rd October 1862. Still owned by the Hamilton family who have resided here since the early 17th century. It is said that within the yard is a large hidden well. Fantastic setting. The 12th-century Killyleagh Castle Towers is the perfect place for history buffs to unveil the past whilst Net Walk Launch Point offers scenic views over the water. Leonardo Hotel Belfast - Formerly Jurys Inn. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. By that time however, the 5 Hamilton cousins and Lady Alice (who had remarried the wealthy Lord Bargany) had all died. Due to being privately owned, you cannot enter the grounds of the castle itself. It has been owned by the Hamilton family since the early 17th century. However, an alliance of the Irish ONeills and McCartans (McArtans), who were the native owners of the land, attacked the castle and ousted the English inhabitants. Telephone: 0330 137 4008. We had a quick visit to Greencastle while waiting for our ferry. Free or royalty-free photos and images. A business center, express check-in, and express check-out are also on offer. 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