His resultant reconquest of Ireland was exceptionally blood-stained – sparing few devout Catholics, and killing, according to different sources, anywhere from 15-50% of the Irish population.Ĭromwell’s assault upon Kilkenny Castle had symbolic, rather than strategic, significance. Cromwell, then leader of England and devout Protestant, viewed the arrangement with antipathy. The Cromwellian siege was an exceptionally bloody re-conquest of Ireland, emerging from the fall-out of the English Civil War.įor about ten years prior to the reconquest, Ireland had briefly been able to claim self-governance, with the Catholic Irish Confederate governing large chunks of the country. Where did it go? Well, the Eastern wall and the North-Eastern tower were blown to bits during the 1650 Cromwellian siege of Ireland. One of the four walls – and one of the great round drum towers – has disappeared over time. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out the fact that, nowadays, Kilkenny Castle is effectively three-sided. The Missing Wall of Kilkenny Castle: The Castle and the Cromwellian Conquest of Ireland The stone curtain walls and the round drum towers (of which three remain – see below!) were all the work of William Marshall. In about 1209, he started to rebuild Kilkenny Castle where the wooden castle had once stood (it had since been burned to the ground). Note that ‘drum’ just refers to its shape. One of the c13th ‘Drum Towers’ of Kilkenny. He chose to settle in Ireland, and, in 1207, he established the Medieval town of Kilkenny. As a result of his might, he was granted vast portions of land. William Marshall was one of the most successful and fearless of all Norman knights at that time. He died four years later, and his lands eventually passed to his daughter’s husband – William Marshall. Strongbow laid the original wooden Motte and Bailey castle buildings in 1172. Strongbow was one of the devout knights who helped Henry II of England seize control of some regions of Ireland, from 1171 onwards. Kilkenny Castle grew from the work of one Norman Knight – Richard de Clare, who was nicknamed Strongbow. Kilkenny Castle: A Fortress and Chateau, on Medieval Foundations On approach to Kilkenny – the attractive fountain. It’s easy to spot the influence of Cromwell when you visit Kilkenny – he destroyed one entire side of the castle! Despite this, sections of the castle have been rebuilt and the site hosts tens of thousands of tourists every year. The castle was featured in Oliver Cromwell’s re-conquest of Ireland in 1650 and was besieged during the Irish Civil War in 1922. Kilkenny Castle was founded in Medieval times, but its most significant moments have been played out during more recent history.
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