17th Century
From the Archives: An Unwelcome Visitor – September 1649
Leap Year Times – Saturday, February 29th, 1992
by Jennifer Browett from Mrs. McGloin’s 4th Class at that time.
Mike Steele via Compfight
Strange things have happened at Killincarrig Castle in recent days.
The village Castle has been plundered by an English General called Cromwell
who arrived here with a large army. Two arrests have been made since his departure.
Last week we heard that Cromwell was approaching on his march from Drogheda to Wexford.
Rumours reached us of dreadful happening in Drogheda.
The confederate troops who were holding the castle ran away before he arrived and took refuge in Arklow.
The local people are not too impressed about this. However Cromwell’s horse was stolen by Luke O Toole’s son Christopher who had been staying at Kindlestown Castle. So Cromwell will have reason to remember his visit here.
After his departure leaving a large garrison at the castle, a man called John Bayley, a soldier, stationed at Killincarrig, was tried for desertion. He was only sentenced to run the gauntlet.
Yesterday I heard that Kathleen Farrell a local woman has been arrested. At a special court she has been convicted of spying and sentenced to death. She was taken away to Dublin and as of yet we don’t know of her fate. The villagers will never forget these past two weeks.
Killincarrig Castle
Killincarrig Castle was a manor house
built about 1620.
This manor seemed a popular place
for both soldiers and rebels to stay over the centuries.
During the Eleven Years War (1641-1653)
the castle became a stronghold
by the Catholic Confederates.
After that in 1649, legend has it that Oliver Cromwell
an English leader came to stay.
He was considered to be a hero in England,
but a villain in Ireland, responsible for
great loss of life in Ireland.
The legend says that Cromwell
spent a night in Killincarrig Castle
and that he posted some troops there
while he went south in search of his horse
which had been stolen by the Irish rebels.
On the same trip, he ransacked Kindlestown.
Later in history, during the 1798 rebellion,
the Irish rebels hid there after to avoid getting caught!
Some of us have visited this ruin.
It is in a lady’s back garden and is a protected structure.
Evidence of Killincarrig’s past has been found
such as old muskets, pistol balls, gunpowder measures
and other such equipment which were found in
and around the castle.
We think we are lucky to live in a place
that has such a rich and interesting history.
UPDATE:
Lots of great information about Killincarrig Castle
on Greystones Guide. Check out THIS link.
As always please supervise children online.
The internet is a portal to the outside world.