on the south-east. This side of the fortress is flanked at each angle
by a round tower, one of them at least having been added during the
last century. The whole effect is much enhanced by the building being
largely covered with ivy.
During the early part of the eighteenth century the stronghold was
enlarged and modernised by its owner, Colonel Talbot. It had at that
time lost its castellated character, which was restored, while the moat
that surrounded it was filled in and planted.
The former entrance was by drawbridge, protected by a portcullis and
barbican. The old tower of the barbican now gives entrance to the
stable yard.
The hall is flagged and vaulted, and the walls are hung with
interesting martial relics, while a handsomely-carved chair is said to
have belonged to King Robert Bruce.
A circular flight of stairs leads to the next floor, which contains
the famous “Oak Room.” The timber for its ornamentation is said to
have been brought from the “faire greene commune of Ostomanstoune,”
which was not so far away, and from which King William Rufus is said to
have obtained the oak to roof Westminster Hall. The panels in Malahide
Castle are of an ebony black, and are richly carved in relief with
scriptural subjects. The ceiling is cross-beamed with oak, and a wide
mullioned window gives light to this beautiful apartment. It is said
to have once been the castle chapel, and that behind a double panel,
carved with scenes from the Garden of Eden, is a recess still occupied
by the altar.
Here amongst other interesting objects is the suit of armour
traditionally supposed to have been worn by Sir Walter Hussey, who was
the first husband of the Hon. Maud Plunkett, and was killed on his
wedding day.
The dining hall is said to date from the Tudor period, and it has a
pointed ceiling of stained wood with a gallery at one end. In this room
is displayed a very fine collection of historical and family portraits
by many celebrated artists, amongst whom are Lely, Titian, Reynolds,
Kneller, and others.
The portraits include those of “Handsome Dick Talbot,” Duke of
Tyrconnel, favourite of Charles II. and James I., the Duchess of
Portsmouth and her son the Duke of Richmond, the Earl of Lucan, Ireton,
Myles Corbet, and several royal personages.
The “saloon” has also some art treasures, the chief being an
altar-piece by Albert Durer, which once belonged to Mary Oueen of
Scots, and was purchased by Charles II. for the Duchess of Portsmouth
for the then enormous sum of £2,000.
The lands of Malahide were granted to the Talbot family in 1174 by
Henry II., in whose train was Chevalier Richard Talbot, when the king
came to Ireland in 1172. This grant was confirmed to Sir Richard Talbot
by Edward IV. in 1475.
The foundations of the castle were laid by the first Richard Talbot in
Henry II.’s reign upon the gentle elevation of limestone rock where it
stands to-day. It was enlarged during Edward IV.’s reign.
Sir Richard Edgecomb landed at Malahide in 1488 as Lord Justice, and
writes that “there a gentlewoman called Talbot received and made me
right good cheer,” until the Bishop of Meath and others came later in
the day to escort him to Dublin.
During the rebellion of Lord Offaly or the “Silken Thomas,” the
O’Tooles and O’Byrnes ravished the country north of Dublin, and having
plundered Howth, they “went to Malahyde and burst open the gates till
they came to the hall-doors, when as they were resisted with great
difficulty,” they returned homeward.
After the rising had been suppressed, the unfortunate young leader
executed, and his family attainted, Gerald, afterwards 12th Earl
of Kildare, only escaped from the English Government through the
assistance of his aunt, the Lady “Aleanora” FitzGerald, and for the
protection she had afforded her nephew she was detained at Malahide
Castle awaiting the King’s pleasure. From here, in 1545, was dated her
petition for pardon to Henry VIII., which he granted.
Lord Strafford tried to gain some of the Talbot possessions and
privileges in 1639, but without success.
John Talbot was banished to Connaught for taking part in the rebellion
of 1641, and his castle and 500 acres were granted on a seven-year
lease in 1653 to Miles Corbet, who was Chief Baron. His house in Dublin
had been visited by plague, and he took up residence at Malahide about
Christmas time. Here he lived until obliged to fly for his life, and he
was afterwards executed as a regicide.
There is a tradition that Cromwell was his guest at Malahide during his
tenancy.
A picture appearing on the Down Survey Map (1655-56) represents the
castle as having a large tower at one end, and the notes describe it
as “a good stone house therein, with orchards and gardens and many
ash-trees, with other outhouses in good repair.”
Upon the Restoration the Talbot family came again into possession.
Close to the castle are the ruins of a church which was erected
and endowed by the Talbot family, and where they were buried for
many years. Here is the altar tomb of Maud Plunkett, “The Bride of
Malahide,” who was “maid, wife, and widow on one and the same day.”
Her third husband was Sir Richard Talbot. The tomb is particularly
remarkable because of the effigy which represents Lady Talbot as
wearing the “horned coif” of 1412, and it is the only representation of
this fashion in Ireland.
It is said the church was unroofed by Corbet, either to make bullets of
the lead or to cover a barn with the other material.
The history of the castle would be hardly complete without mention of
the famous ghost “Puck,” who has a fancy for roaming the grounds in
the costume he wore when he was an inhabitant of the castle. There are
many stories regarding his appearances, amongst which is the following
authenticated account: Not so many years ago a naval officer who had
just been appointed to the Coast Guard Station at Malahide received
an invitation to dine at the castle. On his way up the avenue he met
a strange figure in a fantastic costume whom he thought was some
one masquerading. Not liking to be made the subject of a joke, he
threatened to knock him down unless he told him what he wanted, and
upon getting no reply he endeavoured to carry out his threat, but his
arm passed through his adversary, and he thought it advisable to hasten
his steps to the castle. It was not likely to improve his appetite,
however, to find the portrait of the strange figure looking down upon
him from the dining-room wall.
Richard Talbot was created Lord Talbot de Malahide in 1831, and the
present peer is 5th Baron.
AUTHORITIES CONSULTED.
D’Alton, “History of County of Dublin.”
Proceedings of Royal Society of Antiquaries.
Carew MSS., Book of Howth.
Brewer, “Beauties of Ireland.”
Burke, “Visitation of Seats and Arms.”
M’Mahon, “Malahide Castle” in “Historic Houses.”
Burke’s Peerage.
Parliamentary Gazetteer.
P., “Malahide Castle,” in _Dublin Penny Journal_.
Prendergast, “The Plantation of the Barony
of Rhone,” in _Journal of Kilkenny Archæological Society_.
_MALLOW CASTLE_
The town of Mallow is situated on the River Blackwater, seventeen miles
north-north-west of Cork, in the Barony of Fermoy.
The ruins of the castle are to the south of the town upon rising ground
commanding the river. They consist of a great rectangular building
running north and south, and measuring about 80 feet in length and 30
in breadth on the inside. It has thirty-one Tudor windows, which are
generally large and square, having two series of oblong lights, three
or five in number, and a window on the north contains as many as eight.
The structure is unroofed, and the floors being of wood have almost
entirely disappeared. It was defended by three towers on the western
side. The round tower at the north-west angle contained a clock until
the middle of the last century. The centre tower measures about 12
feet by 15, and its door-head is depressed. The south-west tower has
a five-sided exterior, and inside the upper part is circular, and the
lower portion pentagonal.
The eastern front of the castle has one tower, with a five-sided
exterior likewise. In 1836 a portion of the east side of the castle
fell. The whole of it is now extensively covered with ivy.
This building is supposed to be of the Tudor era, and it is likely to
occupy the site of an older fortress, as there are still traces of
foundations which do not seem to have been included in the plan of the
present ruin.
The Manor of Mallow passed by exchange from the De Rupes or Roches into
the hands of the Desmond FitzGeralds at the close of the thirteenth
century.
Tradition states that the Tudor fortress was erected by the “Great
Earl” of Desmond, as Garrett, the 15th Earl, who succeeded to the
title in 1558, is usually styled. It seems, however, more probable
that it was built by his even greater father, James, who was Lord High
Treasurer of Ireland.
[Illustration: MALLOW CASTLE.]
It remained in the Desmond possession until the forfeiture of their
princely estates in 1584.
At this time it was in the hands of Sir John of Desmond, the Earl’s
son, who was overtaken near Castlelyons and killed by a former servant
of his own. His body was hung over one of the gates of Cork for some
years, and his head sent to Dublin Castle.
The following description of the stronghold is taken from an
inquisition held at this time on the Manor of Mallow:--
“One castle containing in itself two small courts and one great
barbican, namely, where the howse standeth the enterance in is on the
north side ffyrste into one of the said courts, and then turninge one
the lefte hande ye enter by a doore, beinge in a highe wall into the
Balne or Barbican, which is reasonable large, and then goinge a little
way, turninge one the lefte hande, have ye enterance by an other stone
wall, whereas the castell or howse standeth, the lower rooms whereof ar
sellers vauled over. And in the wall one the lefte hande there be stay
res of stone of xii stepps in heyght that leadeth one the right hande
into the Hall, which is about lx foote longe and xxvi foot wyde, within
the howse, and is deepe, with a highe roofe, the Tymber wereof seemeth
to be sounde, and is covered with thacke, some thinge decayed at the
north ende; towards the west corner there is a square buyldinge vaulted
as thother is, but not so broade, and riseth somewhat higher than the
roofe of the hall in which, over the sellor, ar fower stronge roomes
that may be made meete for lodgings: the uppermost, savinge one, is
vaulted.”
The siege during the Desmond rebellion must have caused the castle to
need repair, and even at subsequent dates it seems to have been in a
ruinous condition.
At first after this, the district of Mallow was assigned to Pelham,
H.M. Attorney-General, and Sir Thomas Norreys, who was holding the
place, writes to Burghley in 1587: “I understand Mallow (a place which
I have hitherto had keeping of) is assigned to H.M. Attorney-General,
who doth little esteem it. I crave to be admitted an associate in Co.
Cork, and still keep that place, which I doubt not the Attorney-General
will easily yield to. I affect not the place for any special goodness,
but having held it so long am the more unwilling to leave it, and, if I
may obtain it, will endeavour the best service I can.”
The same year Sir John Norreys, President of Munster, writes from
Utrecht complaining that the honour of his office brings little land
with it, and asking that Mallow might be granted to him.
He it was who settled the crown of Portugal on the royal house of
Braganza, and Edmund Spencer described him in some of the lines of his
“Fairy Oueen.”
In 1588 Sir Thomas Norreys received a grant of the castle and lands
from Elizabeth.
Here, in Sir Thomas’s arms, died his brother, the great Sir John
Norreys, in 1597, of old wounds which had been neglected and turned
to gangrene. One of many fables told regarding his death is that the
devil, dressed in black, appeared while he was playing cards, and
claimed his soul on the spot in fulfilment of an old bargain.
During the Tyrone rebellion in 1598-99 Norreys had his English sheep
stolen from Mallow, and his park wall broken down, so that the deer
roamed loose.
Upon the restored young Earl of Desmond’s returning to Ireland in 1599
he spent much of his time at Mallow, where he was said to be in love
with Lady Norris, widow of Sir Thomas.
The Attorney-General writes in 1606: “The first night we lodged at
Mallow, a house of my Lady Norries, which is a well-built house,
and stands by a fair river in a fruitful soil, but it is yet much
unrepaired and bears many marks of the late rebellion.” At this time
Elizabeth Norreys, heiress to the estate, was a king’s ward, and
resided with her mother in the castle.
In 1613 a fresh patent was granted to Dame Elizabeth Jephson, and her
heirs for £50 paid by her husband, Sir John Jephson, Knight, she having
inherited her father’s estate. The grant included the castle, manor,
and town of Mallow, Short Castle, _alias_ Castle-Gar, &c.
In 1636 the Earl of Cork made an offer for the manor, but he did not
come to terms with the owners.
Short Castle, which was on the north side of the town, was in charge of
Lieutenant Williamson in 1641, when Lord Mountgarret marched against
Mallow, while the larger fortress was placed in charge of Arthur
Bettesworth and two hundred men by Captain Jephson.
After many assaults and several breaches, Short Castle was forced to
surrender, which its commander did on terms. There are several versions
of the following story.
After the castle’s fall its defender and his men were refreshing
themselves in a public-house in the town, when an officer and man
belonging to Mountgarret’s force entered with a block and sword,
stating they had come to behead them. Lieutenant Williamson caught
the sword up with one hand and the officer’s hair with the other, and
dragged him to the walls of the larger stronghold, where, dismissing
him with a kick, he and his men joined the other garrison.
The Castle of Mallow was taken by the Earl of Castlehaven in 1645, and
almost reduced to ruins.
In 1666 there seems to have been an attempt made to restore it. Lord
Orrery, writing to the Duke of Ormond in this year, says: “This bridge
is at Mallow, where there is a castle of good strength if it had a
little reparation, and is one of the greatest passes and thoroughfares
in this province, and if seized on by any enemy would, in effect,
divide the country into two parts.”
During the scare of the French invasion the Grand Jury presented money
to repair it, but the Judge seems to have reserved his decision on the
matter.
Major-General Sgravenmore sent Colonel Doness to destroy the bridge and
reconnoitre the castle in 1689.
Norreys was added to the family surname Jephson in 1838, and some years
later Sir Denham Jephson Norreys erected a mansion in Elizabethan style
close to the old fortress. Sir Bernard Burke remarks of it: “Here
are mullioned windows, pointed gables, tall chimneys, and all those
various intricacies of building which characterised our noblest seats
in the days of the Virgin Oueen; somewhat fantastic, it is true, but
picturesque in the extreme.”
The manor and castle are still in the possession of this family, Mrs.
Atherton-Jephson-Norreys being the present representative.
AUTHORITIES CONSULTED.
H. F. Berry, “The Manor and Castle
of Mallow,” in _Journal of Cork
Archæological Society_.
J. O’Flanagan, “The Blackwater in Munster.”
Sir B. Burke, “The Seats and Arms of Noblemen and Gentlemen, &c.”
Smith, “History of County and City of Cork.”
R. Bagwell, “Ireland under the Tudors.”
Parliamentary Gazetteer.
H. Berry, “Manor of Mallow in the
Thirteenth Century,” in _Journal
of Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland_.
[Illustration: MAYNOOTH CASTLE.]
_MAYNOOTH CASTLE_
“Ye Geraldines! ye Geraldines! how royally ye reigned
O’er Desmond broad, and rich Kildare, and English arts disdained,
Your sword made knights, your banner waved, free was your bugle call,
By Glyn’s green slopes, and Dingle’s tide,
from Barrow’s banks to Youghal.
What gorgeous shrines, what Brehon lore, what minstrel feasts there were
In and around Maynooth’s strong keep and palace-tilled Adare!
But not for rite or feast ye stayed, when friend or kin were pressed;
And foemen fled, when “Crom a boo” bespoke your lance in rest.”
THOMAS DAVIS.
Situated about twelve miles west-by-north of Dublin, this ancient
fortress of the Pale was the chief stronghold of the Kildare branch
of the Geraldines. It was built by Maurice FitzGerald (the first of
the great family to settle in Ireland) to protect the lands of Offaly,
granted to him in 1176 by Strongbow in lieu of part of Wexford which
King Henry wished to retain.
From the excellency of the twelfth-century masonry, the great keep,
with walls some 8 feet in thickness, and the gate-house, are the best
preserved parts of the ruin. The large corner tower and three round
arches adjoining belong to the thirteenth century, while the fifteenth
century is represented by an oblong tower, now used as the belfry of
the Episcopalian Church. The rest of the buildings which connected
these, now isolated, structures have almost entirely disappeared.
The fortress was surrounded on two sides by water, being at the
junction of the River Lyreen, a tributary of the Liffey, and a smaller
stream.
In 1248 we read that Luke, Archbishop of Dublin, erected the chapel
of Maynooth into a prebend of St. Patrick’s Cathedral at the request
of Maurice, second Baron of Offaly. This building, which was once the
castle chapel, is now the parish church.
At the beginning of the fourteenth century Maynooth seems to have been
the favourite residence of the FitzGerald family. John, the 1st Earl
of Kildare, and Thomas, the 2nd Earl, both died there (1316 and 1328).
The latter bequeathed the castle to his wife. It is described as being
“built of stone, with numerous offices partly of stone, and two gates,
one leading to the town, and the other to the garden.”
The castle was added to in 1426, and is said to have been “one of the
largest and richest Earl’s houses in Ireland.”
In 1534 the Earl of Kildare, being Lord Deputy, was summoned to London,
and appointed his son, Lord Offaly, Vice-Deputy in his absence. Upon
a rumour that his father had been executed, Lord Thomas, who was very
young, went into rebellion, and such nobles and chiefs as refused to
join his standard he sent as prisoners to Maynooth.
A division of the English army, landing at Howth to raise the siege
of Dublin Castle, was met by “Silken Thomas” with two hundred men.
An engagement followed, in which Lord Offaly was victorious, and the
survivors of the King’s troops were sent captive to Maynooth.
At this time the castle was splendidly fortified with men and ordnance.
Hearing that the whole English army was about to arrive, Lord Offaly
left Maynooth in command of Christopher Paris, his foster-brother, and
went into Connaught to raise forces.
In January, 1535, seven hundred men were sent from Dublin to burn
Maynooth Castle. A skirmish took place, and although some of the rebels
were slain, the royal troops retired.
The Lord Deputy, Sir William Skeffington, now collected his forces, and
marched in full strength against the stronghold. The siege began on the
14th of March, and was continued until the 23rd.
Upon arriving at Maynooth, Sir William demanded the surrender of the
castle, and offered free pardon and reward to all the garrison.
To this he only received a jeering reply, so planting his cannon to the
north of the building towards the park he opened fire. The attack was
varied north-east and north-west, but though this continued for over a
week little damage was done, save destroying the battlements.
Towards the close of this time a letter was shot out of the castle
to the Lord Deputy from Christopher Paris, offering to find means of
letting the besiegers enter the castle for a certain sum of money and
provision for the rest of his life.
Sir William Skeffington agreed to the terms, and upon the 22nd, a
field-piece having been captured from the besiegers, the Governor made
it an occasion for high revelry. Thus, while the men who guarded the
outer battlements were sound asleep after their carouse, the King’s
troops easily entered the castle by scaling-ladders early on the
morning of the 23rd.
Sir William Brereton led the attack, but the resistance was very
feeble, the drunken soldiers believing that the cry of “St. George! St.
George!” was but a dream. Sir William hoisted his standard from the
highest turret, so as to inform the Lord Deputy that the castle had
been won.
Sir William Skeffington entered in the afternoon. The garrison
consisted of thirty-seven persons. Two singers of the chapel were
pardoned, at the intervention of Chief Justice Aylmer, on account of
their sweet voices.
Twenty-five of the men were beheaded, and one hanged, outside the
castle gate, and the principal heads placed upon the battlements.
Amongst these was that of the Dean of Kildare. Paris was paid the sum
stipulated for his treachery, but as he had forgotten to make his
safety a condition, he was executed with the rest.
The Lord Deputy left a garrison in the castle and returned to Dublin.
Lord Offaly was marching to the relief of his stronghold with an army
of seven thousand men when the news of its fall reached him. At this,
most of his forces melted away, and the rebellion became rather a
series of raids than regular warfare.
At last, Lord Thomas, tempted by a promise of pardon, surrendered
himself, and was sent prisoner to England. Here, after some months of
captivity, he and his five uncles were beheaded at Tyburn.
There is a tradition that the last evening “Silken Thomas” ever spent
at Maynooth he played the harp under the venerable yew which is now
enclosed in the grounds of St. Patrick’s College.
A bill of attainder was passed in 1536 against the Earl of Kildare and
his heirs; and Maynooth, being forfeited to the Crown, became a King’s
castle. It seems to have been a favourite residence of the Lords Deputy
at this time.
In 1552 Edward VI. restored Gerald, 11th Earl of Kildare, to his title
and estates. His widow lived at Maynooth until her death; and it was in
the castle garden that Lord Delvin was first approached by the Earls
of Tyrone and Tyrconnell to join the insurrection in 1606. In a letter
written by the Countess of Kildare she expresses her regret for such an
occurrence.
After the death of the 14th Earl in 1612, Maynooth Castle seems to have
fallen into a state of dilapidation on account of his son’s minority.
It was restored by his guardian, the great Earl of Cork, who placed an
inscription over the gateway recording its restoration, and bearing the
date 1630.
In 1629 we hear of the Earl’s title deeds being preserved in the
Council House, which was a stone building that stood on the site now
occupied by the President’s house of St. Patrick’s College. It was
removed about 1780. The doorway is still preserved in a school of the
town, and the council table, bearing the date 1533, stands before the
Duke of Leinster’s residence at Carton.
The 12th Earl of Kildare lived at Maynooth until civil war broke out in
1641. Shortly after hostilities began the castle was plundered and the
valuable library destroyed.
In 1643 Captain Michael Jones, under the Marquis of Ormond, held
possession of the fortress; and in 1644 the Earl of Kildare asked for
powder and men to increase its defence, he having taken down the spouts
to make bullets.
In 1647 General Owen O’Neill sent a detachment from Trim, which carried
the castle by assault. Twenty-six men of the garrison and some officers
were hanged, and the fortress dismantled.
The next Earl lived chiefly at Kilkea Castle, and Maynooth gradually
fell into decay.
In 1707 Robert, 19th Earl of Kildare, wished to restore the building,
but finding it too dilapidated he decided to enlarge Carton House
instead.
Houses were subsequently built among the castle ruins, and these were
removed by the Duke of Leinster in 1848, and the space round planted
and enclosed.
AUTHORITIES CONSULTED.
Duke of Leinster, “Maynooth Castle.” Addenda
by Miss M. Stokes (_Kildare
Archæological Society’s Journal_).
Marquis of Kildare, “Earls of Kildare.”
Most Rev. John Healy, D.D., “Maynooth College.”
_MONGEVLIN CASTLE_