A new visitor experience is to be unveiled at Doe Castle by RTEs Sean O’Rourke on Saturday 23 July at 11am.
The new information panels tell the story of the building of the castle and the lives of some of the people who lived there over its 500 year history.
Doe, which sits on a secluded spot on the shore of Sheephaven Bay just off the R245 between Creeslough and Carrigart, was one of several strongholds of Mac Suibhne na dTuath – The McSweeneys of The Territories – which were given to them by the O’Donnells. Some say the central part of the castle or keep, and surrounding walls, were built in the 1420s by Nachtan O’Donnell.
Some highlights of Doe‘s colourful history include the rescue of Spanish Armada sailors in 1588; and the departure in 1642 of Owen Roe O’Neill and Sir Phelim O’Neill from the castle with 1,500 men to lead the Irish troops in the Gaelic uprising of the 1640s.
Maolmhuire an Bhata Bhuí, or Myles of the Yellow Stick, who marched to Kinsale in 1601 with Red Hugh O’Donnell, was the last McSweeney chief of Doe.
Three hundred years later, in 1905, Doe’s McSweeney origins were rekindled when three thousand people marched from Creeslough to attend a Gaelic Revival Festival at the castle. It was led by the celebrated Donegal piper Turlough McSweeney, An Píobaire Mór. Pádraig Pearse, signatory of the 1916 Proclamation, addressed the meeting.
Free guided tours of Doe Castle are available at the weekends on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during July and August between 11am and 5pm.
The castle grounds are open to the public 7 days a week all year round, from 10am until 6pm.
Tags: