castles

castles. There is limited annalistic evidence to suggest that Gaelic Irish lords were building castles or caisléin in the late 12th century just prior to the Anglo‐Norman invasion. However, these military fortifications, which also served as administrative and judicial centres, were first constructed in large numbers by the Anglo‐Normans in earth and wood, either as motte and baileys or as ringwork castles, to overawe the island during their military campaign. The first stone structures appeared within a decade at Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim, and Trim, Co. Meath, with strong rectangular keeps located in the centre of a ward delimited by curtain walls. Royal castles were also built at major population centres such as Dublin and Limerick at the start of the 13th century. A major variant in castle design was the circular keep at places like Dundrum, Co. Down. As the century progressed, the keep ceased to be separate and was incorporated into the curtain walls as an entrance gateway. This is best represented by Roscommon, constructed at the end of the 13th century against the Gaelic Irish of Connacht. But economic difficulties and the changing nature of warfare in the 14th century led to the start of the construction of up to 7,000 tower houses, small single stone towers with a defended bawn. A few large castles were built in the 15th century, such as Cahir, Co. Tipperary, by the Ormonds. The era of castle construction ended in the 17th century with the increasingly efficient use of siege cannon.

Terry Barry