Rahanane Castle

While the Dingle Peninsula has only a few castles remaining, they are impressive enough to spark the imagination. Rahanane, Gallarus, and Minard have a considerable portion of their walls standing, but only a small part of one wall is left in ferriter's Castle. These castle's were built between 1440 and 1600, primary as fortresses, although they were also the ordinary residences of nobility. they are all tower house style castles, and were strengthened and fortified because of the troubled nature of the times in which they were erected. Rahanane Castle in the Parish of Ventry, was the residence of the Knight of Kerry who belonged to the Geraldine family (the royal family of England). The castle was built on the site of an old ringport. The ringfort was built up and a second added with walls of 6 meters (20 ft.), giving the appearance that there may have been a moat, although there never was one. The Knight of Kerry lived there until Cromwellian times (1628-1659). Oliver Crommell, who had become the Puritan Ruler of England, finally crushed the Irish revolt in 1649. A revolt that had started in 1641 by Irish Catholics because they feared the lost of their land and persecution by the Puritans who were gaining power in England. The land seized and religious persecution was actually started in 1603 by James 1, the ruler of England. The land (called Plantations) was given t English and Scottish protestants, creating the protestant majority that still exist in Northern Ireland. There were also plantations in other parts of the country. This was done by James 1 to try and prevent further revolts. Cromwell upon his victory gave even more land to English Protestants and deprived the Catholics of many political rights. During the crushing blow to end the revolt, the castles were severly damaged but Rahanane Castle still has its very tiny, narrow, stone stairs, from the first to second floors, which can be "carefully" climbed. From the mid 17th century (1650) until the 1920's, the Dingle Peninsula was controlled by Lord Ventry (Mullen was the family name), who had his family residence at Baile Goilan, later renamed as Burnham Estate. The house is now an Irish speaking boarding school for girls, Colaiste Ide. there is a collection of Ogham stones on the grounds of the Estate, along with some exotic and unusual trees and plants, including a plantation of Bamboo.

Note:

This information was taken from the Dingle Penisula website and was sublisted under 6,000 years of History and Activities to Do.

Updated: February 18, 2002 11:34 AM

Rahanane Castle, Ventry Co. Kerry