Archaeology

Clough Oughter Castle
Clough Oughter Castle is located on an island in Lough Oughter, in Killykeen forest park, a short drive from Killeshandra and Cavan Town. It is a circular castle standing on a man-made island and is only accessible by boat, which can be hired locally. 
 
The castle was probably built by the Anglo-Norman William 'Gorm' de Lacy in the early 13th century. The O'Reillys, the leading Irish clan in the area, gained control of Clough Oughter in 1233 and retained control until the 16th century. During this time the castle was an important O'Reilly fortress and prison.

It was made a royal castle as part of the Plantation of Ulster and the castle and its lands were granted to Captain Hugh Culme. During the 1641 rebellion the castle was seized by the Irish rebels and Captain Culme and Bishop Bedell of Kilmore were among those imprisoned in the castle. The castle was again used as a prison after the victory of Owen Roe O'Neill, one of the rebel leaders, at the battle of Benburb in 1646, and some officers were held prisoner there. O'Neill died at Clough Oughter castle in 1649 and although some reports suggest that he was poisoned by enemy agents there is no evidence to support it. The castle was finally abandoned after it had been badly damaged during a successful siege by Crowellian forces in 1653. 

There was an archaeological excavation at the site in 1987, which uncovered at least four phases of building at this castle site. The castle was probably, for example, adapted by the O'Reillys when they gained control of it and again for use a prison.

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