Leighlinbridge Castle

Leighlinbridge Castle, also called Black Castle, is situated in the village of Leighlinbridge, County Carlow, Ireland, on the River Barrow, and was one of Ireland’s earliest Norman castles. A 50ft tall broken castle tower and bawn wall are all that can be seen today.cite web | title=Leighlinbridge Castle | work=An Ireland Attraction | url=anirelandattraction.com/ireland-attractions/leighlinbridge-castle.htm | accessdate=2007-12-10]

History

One source says that in 1180 Hugh de Lacy built the first castle here to defend the river crossing,cite web | title=Leighlinbridge Castle | work=South East Ireland.com | url=http://searobis.failteireland.ie/individual_results.asp?sID=48717 | accessdate=2007-12-10] cite web | title=Leighlinbridge Castle | work=Carlow Tourism - Castles | url=http://www.carlowtourism.com/castles.html | accessdate=2007-12-10] while another states that in 1181, John de Clahull built one of the earliest strongholds of The Pale here. The present building is, however, a 14th century Tower house. Beside the castle was a Carmelite priory, founded in 1270. [cite web | title=Leighlinbridge Castle| work=Go Ireland.com | url=http://carlow.goireland.com/scripts/low/xq/asp/areaid.169/areatype.C/cat.9/SubjectID.77/PremisesID.11653/qx/premises.htm | accessdate=2007-12-10] During the 14th century, the Kavanaghs reclaimed most of their land in the area, including the castle. The castle was rebuilt in 1547 by Edward Bellingham as Black Castle and a band of horse was kept there, under whose protection, the county slowly settled. The castle was situated in the Barony of Idrone owned by the Carews. [cite web | title=Biography of Sir Nicholas Bagenal | work=Bagnall Village.com | url=http://www.bagnallvillage.com/Biographies/SirNicholasBagenal.htm | accessdate=2007-12-10] The castle was sacked by Cromwellian forces in 1650 during the Irish Confederate Wars.

Features

A broken castle tower, 50 feet tall, and the bawn wall compose the ruins seen today. All that remains is the left half of the 14th century tower and part of the bawn.

References