1602
There
was a curious incident in 1602 which does not
feature largely in the History books but is
interesting to us as being the first time that
Carrignacurra Castle was called on to defend
itself in a full blooded battle. The Castle had
been built sometime in the period 1450 to 1500,
and had so far escaped without use of its
formidable defence systems.
These events
took place during the quiet period between the
fall of Dunboy in June 1602 and the departure by
Donal Cam, O'Sullivan Beare on his epic march to
Leitrim in the following December.
Donal
Cam was not in Dunboy Castle when it was
attacked and destroyed by Mountjoy and Carew.
This was a wise decision since all the defenders
were massacred when the castle fell. It was
quite usual for castles to be garrisoned by a
small but strong fighting force under a
Constable, and this had been the case with
Dunboy, Donal Cam himself being in
residence in Ardea Castle about 10 miles over
the mountains.
After the fall of
Dunboy, Donal Cam gathered together an army of
some 500 fighting men, with the object of
continuing the war against the English forces.
This was somewhat of a forlorn gesture. O'Neill
and O'Donnell had fled to Spain and their great
army was dispersed. Apart from Donal Cam there
were now only two other small armies in the
field, the other one in South Munster consisting
of the forces of Donogh Maol and Fineen
McCarthy, the sons of Sir Owen McCarthy Reagh.
This latter force had been heavily subsidised by
a grant of £300 from Owen McEgan, the Bishop of
Ross, who had recently landed from Spain.
Dunboy fell on 17th.June and on 1st.July
Carew felt sufficiently confident that he had
regained control of the situation to stand down
the two Companies of the Presidential force
commanded by Cormac macDermod McCarthy, Lord
Muskerry and John Barry. This took place in
Carew's camp which was in Bantry Abbey.
By the 18th.August Carew had changed
his mind about Cormac macDermod, and locked him
up in Shandon Tower. This was because of a
scurrilous accusation made by his nephew, Tadhg
McCarthy, accusing Cormac of treason. Carew had
not previously had complete trust in Cormac and
was quite happy to see him under lock and key
once more.
On the 20th.August
it was reported that Donal Cam's Army had
crossed the border at Leap and were advancing
into Carbery. They reached Carrignacurra the
next day and made preparations for a siege. The
garrison put up a small show of resistance, but
their hearts were not in it, and their real
support was for the Irish cause. They had been
loyal to their liege lord, Cormac, but since he
was now imprisoned, there was no longer any need
to pretend. After some parleying, and no doubt
much sabre rattling, the doors were opened and
the garrison joined Donal's Army.
We have
to remember that Carrignacurra although often
called a "Castle" was in fact a Tower House. It
was lived in by a family, and defence was only a
second consideration. In 1602 it was the home of
Tadhg Meirgeach O'Leary, first cousin of the
reigning chieftain, Donnchadh an Ghaorthaidhe of
Mannen. Also in residence would be his two known
sons, Conchobhar and Dermod, and probably other
children we do not know about.
There used
to be a small garrison of soldiers also living
in and around the Castle. Thus in 1584 when
pardons were issued, we learn that Carrignacurra
was garrisoned by Art macDermod and Fearganainm
O'Leary, two of Tadhg's brothers, and a force of
21 soldiers who are all named. They included men
called Moynihan, Healey, Ring, Sullivan, and no
fewer than four Cronins, one of whom was a
Piper. This was probably fairly typical of the
garrison normally available.
That was the
end of the Battle of Carrignacurra, but the rest
of the story is also interesting.
Donal
Cam's Army, now reinforced with the followers of
O'Leary, moved on to Dundareirke Castle, which
also fell without much persuasion. They then had
some fierce resistance at Carrickaphooca Castle.
This was owned by Tadhg macOwen McCarthy of
Drishane. He was not in residence, but
apparently his wife was, because she was amongst
those who finally surrendered.
The other
point of interest was that Donal was joined at
Carrickaphooca by Cormac macDermod who we last
heard of as locked up in Shandon Tower. Carew
reported on 30th.September that
Cormac had escaped from the Tower despite "being
in irons and a guard to attend him". Apparently
he was lowered down the Castle walls on knotted
sheets, and disappeared into the night, which
seems remarkable for a man of 72.
Cormac
and Donal were now in arms together against the
Crown forces with a combined army of some 1500
men. After the capture of Carrickaphooca Castle,
and by the 22nd.September, the whole
force moved into residence in Macroom Castle,
where they now posed a serious threat to Carew.
Cormac had however left in Carew's custody in
Shandon, his wife and a daughter who were now
hostages.
Yet by the 9th.October
the entire effort collapsed. Cormac had written
to Carew pleading for mercy, and Donal Cam
was on his way home to the fastnesses of Ardea.
What had happened to cause such a U-turn. It is
difficult for us to understand the feelings
which swept the country that week when the news
arrived of the death of O'Donnell in Spain. From
Carews cipher notes we learn that O'Donnell had
been poisoned by Carew's spy, a certain James
Blake of Galway. The effect on the country was
electric, and most of the remaining resistance
folded up, so important had been the
charisma and influence of O'Donnell.
By
Christmas 1602 Wilmot encamped near
Glengarriff with 5000 men, and Donal Cam in
despair set off on his march to Leitrim. But
that is another story.