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| Newly Restored Donegal Castle |
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| Model of 1590 Donegal Castle Home of O'Donnell Clan [CLICK TO ENLARGE] |
O'Donnell and O'Neil led several successful battles, defeating the English armies, but this was short lived. After the defection of his brother-in-law to the English side, in return for their backing his own claim to the O'Donnell chieftainship, Red Hugh - "the O'Donnell", as he was known - knew that their only chance to expel England from their country was with the aid of a Spanish invasion. It was during this time that the O'Donnell clan was forced to abandon their stronghold. Before leaving their castle they did their best to destroy it, setting fire to it, thus making it unusable to the English.
O'Donnell and O'Neil were defeated at the Battle of Kinsale, even with assistance of Spanish general del Aguila. At this point O'Donnell left for Spain, to build additional resources for the cause of Irish independence. Other Irish chieftains were also arriving in Spain at this time. O'Donnell was making plans for his return to Ireland but after a year of not hearing from Phillip III, who had promised his support, Red Hugh traveled to Valladolid, the capitol of the Kingdom of Spain, to meet with the king but died en route. He was buried at Simancas Castle in 1602.
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| Model of 1620 Donegal Castle Home of Basil Brooke [CLICK TO ENLARGE] |
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| Donegal Castle in Ruins, ca. 1900 |
The following reference from Atlas and Cyclopedia of Ireland, published in 1900, gives a description of DONEGAL CASTLE after over a century of neglect.--
"The town of Donegal is beautifully situated on a bay of the same name, and does a thriving trade. To the tourist, the great object of attraction is its splendid old castle, the ancient seat of the O'Donnells, lords of Tirconnell. The ruin, compared with others in the island, is in a tolerably good state of preservation, and from what remains it must have been a noble mansion, and worthy of the rank of these once powerful chieftains. Two magnificent sculptured chimneypieces, in the style of James I., still remain in a very perfect state. The grand hall on the ground floor, is arched, from which several smaller apartments open; and upstairs the grand banqueting hall was lit by several Gothic windows, which look out upon the bay; and at one end are the remains of a great bay window the entire height of the chamber, which bespeaks its ancient magnificence. This ruin derives a melancholy interest from the affecting history of the life and adventures of Red Hugh, the last of the powerful line of the princes of Tirconnell and lords of Donegal."
Donegal Castle remained in ruins for over two centuries. Very recently the original 15th century castle keep, built by the elder Hugh O'Donnell, was renovated by the OPW. It is now open to the public and daily guided tours are available on the hour.
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| Inside the Great Hall Renovated Donegal Castle [CLICK TO ENLARGE] |
This poem, written by James Clarence Mangan (1803-1849) expresses both the great loss and the great passion people felt for this symbol of strength of Ireland, of Donegal, and for the O'Donnell clan.
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| Interior of Wing Addition [CLICK TO ENLARGE] |
The Ruins of Donegal Castle
O MOURNFUL, O forsaken pile,
What desolation dost thou dree!
How tarnished is the beauty that was thine erewhile,
Demolished lie thy towers and halls;
A dark, unsightly, earthen mound
Defaces the pure whiteness of thy shining walls,
And solitude doth gird thee round.
Thine older glory has gone by.
Lo! far beyond thy noble battlements of strength,
Thy corner-stones all scattered lie!
Where now, O rival of the gold
Alas! for these thou now hast nothing but the cold,
Thy clay-choked gateways none can trace,
Thou fortress of the once bright doors!
The limestones of thy summit now bestrew thy base,
Bestrew the outside of thy floors.
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| Exterior of Wing Addition [CLICK TO ENLARGE] |
Above thy shattered window-sills
Is but the music of the wild winds from the hills,
The wild winds of the stormy North!
What spell o’ercame thee, mighty fort,
What fatal fit of slumber strange,
O palace of the wine! O many-gated court!
That thou shouldst undergo this change?
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| Fireplace with Brooke Crest [CLICK TO ENLARGE] |
Thou wert, O bright-walled, beaming one,
Thou cradle of high deeds and bold,
The Tara of Assemblies to the sons of Con,
Clan-Connell’s Council-hall of old!
Thou wert a new Emania, thou!
A northern Cruachan in thy might,—
A dome like that which stands by Boyne’s broad water now,
In thee were Ulster’s tributes stored,
And lavished like the flowers in May;
And into thee were Connaught’s thousand treasures poured,
Deserted though thou art to-day!
How often from thy turrets high,
Thy purple turrets, have we seen
Long lines of glittering ships, when summer-time drew nigh,
With masts and sails of snow-white sheen!
How often seen, when gazing round
Thou fastness of a hundred plains!
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| Entry Gate to Donegal Castle [CLICK TO ENLARGE] |
How often to thy banquets bright
We have seen the strong-armed Gaels repair,
And when the feast was over, once again unite
For battle, in thy bass-court fair!
Alas for thee, thou fort forlorn!
Alas for thy low, lost estate!
It is my woe of woes, this melancholy morn,
To see thee left thus desolate!
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