Ancient Castles

Clough Oughter
Located on a man-made island on Lough Oughter, the castle is accessible only by boat. It was built in the early 13th century by the Anglo-Normans but was soon seized by the O’Reillys who controlled it until the 16th century. The castle and lands were granted to Captain Hugh Culme as part of the Plantation of Ulster but were then seized by Irish rebels during the 1641 rebellion.

Clough Oughter Castle was used as a prison after the victory of Eoghan Roe O’Neill at the Battle of Benburb in 1646. The castle was finally abandoned after it was badly damaged during a siege by Cromwellian forces in 1653. In 1987, an excavation at the site uncovered at least four phases of building. Click here for more info.

Crover Castle
Crover Castle was reputedly built by Thomas O'Reilly in the late fourteenth century. It stands on the shores of Lough Sheelin, the border between the Irish and English in the later Middle Ages. It is also very close to the village of Mountnugent.

Relagh Beg
Relagh Beg is located about five miles south east of Bailieborough, near the old church of Moybolgue. Around 1200 the Anglo Normans invaders, who had already conquered much of eastern Ireland, tried to expand their control into Cavan. Instead of building stone castles they often erected plain wooden towers on top of steep, man-made mounds. One of these, called a motte, survives at Relagh Beg.

Tonymore
Two miles south west of Cavan Town is Tonymore, a well-preserved sixteenth century castle. One of the most interesting features here is a 'murder hole'. This could be used to throw missiles or boiling water on any unwelcome visitors. Tonymore is located on private land and access is difficult.

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