Kinnitty
The first Kinnitty
castle is recorded as destroyed in 1209 and rebuilt in 1213.
During that time the Augustinian abbey of St Finnian was established
near to the castle. Some remnants of this, the High Cross
and Abbey Wall, still remain. The fortress site was later
acquired by the
O'Carrolls of Ely and in 1630 William O'Carroll built a new castle
close to the old abbey. This house was confiscated in 1641
as part of the plantation of Offaly, or Kings County as it was then
named. In 1664, the crown granted an estate and castle, to Col.
Thomas Winter in return for his military
service. His descendants sold it to Thomas Bernard, who
renamed the house Castle Bernard and left it to his son Thomas Bernard,
MP.
In 1811, Lady Catherine Hutchinson, the wife
of the younger Thomas Bernard, commissioned architect James Pain to
extend the castle
in a gothic style to its present size. Although burned by the
Irish Republican Army in 1922, the house was restored in 1928 by means
of a Government grant of £32,000. There is no evidence of
early work in the current building, but in the grounds to the SE is an
attached court with thin walls with a medieval look and approximations
of loops, doors and a gate. They appear to be entirely modern.
Perhaps you would like to join me in
visiting this and other great castles of Ireland in
October with Scholarly Sojourns. Details of the trip can be
found by clicking
here.
Copyright©2019
Paul Martin Remfry
