Loghort Castle
This is an illustration of Lohort Castle around 1750. It had 80 foot high walls which were 10 feet thick. It was attacked by Oliver Cromwell's men in 1647 but remains standing till this day. Why do you think the castle was surrounded by a moate? Why are some of the windows different shapes and sizes?
Loghort Castle
Loghort Castle
This is an illustration of Lohort Castle around 1750. It had 80 foot high walls which were 10 feet thick. It was attacked by Oliver Cromwell's men in 1647 but remains standing till this day. Why do you think the castle was surrounded by a moate? Why are some of the windows different shapes and sizes?
Built to last
Prince John, who would become King of England in 1199, built Lohort Castle in 1184 on the dividing line between Norman and Gaelic territory in Cork. It was supposed to be a defence against the Gaelic rebels who attacked the Norman settlers.
According to Charles Smith M.D. in his book 'The Ancient and Present State of The County and City of Cork 1750;
"It (Lohort) is 80 feet high, the walls are 10 feet thick, and moated round with a deep trench, which is passed by a drawbridge".
Civil War in the backyard
Oliver Cromwell
Cromwell only spent 9 months in Ireland from August 1649 to May 1650, but his impact was to be everlasting on the island. With fierce brutality, Cromwell succeeded in completing the English conquest of Ireland. Cromwell first set a course to Drogheda. 3,500 men, women and children were killed over the two day battle, with the city suffering heavy attack. Less than a month later, Cromwell arrived at Wexford town. Here, over 1500 people were killed in the battle that followed. By May 1650, Ireland had been placed under British rule and Cromwell returned home. Sieges on both Limerick and Galway, the last cities under Irish control to fall, ended in October and November 1650. English rule in Ireland was complete.
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Cromwell only spent 9 months in Ireland from August 1649 to May 1650, but his impact was to be everlasting on the island. With fierce brutality, Cromwell succeeded in completing the English conquest of Ireland. Cromwell first set a course to Drogheda. 3,500 men, women and children were killed over the two day battle, with the city suffering heavy attack. Less than a month later, Cromwell arrived at Wexford town. Here, over 1500 people were killed in the battle that followed. By May 1650, Ireland had been placed under British rule and Cromwell returned home. Sieges on both Limerick and Galway, the last cities under Irish control to fall, ended in October and November 1650. English rule in Ireland was complete.
In 1496, Donagh Og MaCarthy McDonagh rebuilt the castle after years of damage caused by battles. It was passed down to members of his family until Sir Phillip Percival, who also owned Kanturk Castle, took over the deed in 1666.
It was on the grounds of Lohort that the bloodiest battle of the English Civil War took place in 1647 between the side who supported Charles I ('The Royalists') and the side who supported Parliament under Oliver Cromwell (the "Parliamentarians"). The castle was attacked but proved too strong for Cromwell's men as the walls were so thick. The battle only lasted for 3 hours but over 4,500 men were killed.
Lohort still stands today in Mallow Co. Cork, and is owned and occupied by the McCabe family.