Cahir Castle - the Nasty Normans

Cahir Castle was started in 1142, although it was added to considerably over the centuries until it was finally one of the largest castles in Ireland.

The Norman architects who built the majority of its defensive features were obviously much nastier than the Irish who built some of the other castles we looked at. This castle is particularly viciously defended by being able to trap attackers in stages throughout the castle and destroy them from above.

The castle was granted to the Butler family. It remained in their family from 1375 and was long thought to be impregnable until it fell to the army of the Earl of Wessex in 1599 during the Elizabethan Wars. The castle was important again when Cromwell arrived as the site of a crucial surrender. Ownership reverted to the state in the 1960s when the last Lord Cahir died.

The violent history of the castle is still visible in the walls. Can you see the cannonball embedded in the rock to the left of and slightly above the drain spout?

I think Dad was considering adding another one.

This Norman castle was much more spacious and comfortable than some of the Irish castles we saw. It also appeared more warlike, more coolly bloodthirsty in its intent. It would appear that Norman architects were much more clever than their Irish contemporaries - it seems they may even have figured out central heating.