Capturing History Challenge Week 19

Welcome to the final Challenge of 2015. What a year it has been, with the generous submissions from fellow bloggers, we have traveled to so many wonderful parts of the globe and hopefully enjoyed the history behind the images. So for the final installment I have decided to share some of my favorite castle ruins which I have explored over the years in addition to this weeks submissions. But before we continue I would like to thank each and every person whom made this little challenge possible. It has been a pleasure to share these wonderful images over the past months, so THANK YOU.

This week we start of in Sunny Spain, with an old Bell Tower in the Cantabrian Mountains near Riano. Then its of to Somerset, England and the rather striking Church of St. Michael on the Burrow Mump.  We then head north to Scotland to the tragic Cairn at Culloden. The scene of the slaughter of 2000 highlanders during the Jacobite rebellion of 1746. Then we as always finish our trip with a selection of some of my favorite Castles around Ireland, all in various states of unfortunate ruin.

1. Old Bell Tower, Riano, Spain. By Darlene Foster @DarleneFostersBlog

2. Burrow Mump, Somerset, England. By Phil Platt  @WheresPhil

3. Culloden Cairn, Scotland. By Cybele Moon @  TheRuinsofTheGatekeepersDaughter

4.  BallyAdams Castle, Laois, Ireland.By EdMooney@EdMooneyPhotography

5.  Carbury Castle, Kildare, Ireland. By Ed Mooney@EdMooneyPhotography

6.  Carlow Castle, Carlow, Ireland. By Ed Mooney@EdMooneyPhotography

7.  Rock of Dunamase, Laois, Ireland.By EdMooney@EdMooneyPhotography

8.  Goat Castle, Dublin, Ireland.By EdMooney@EdMooneyPhotography

9.  Kinnefad Castle, Kildare, Ireland.By EdMooney@EdMooneyPhotography

10. MacFeorais Castle, Kildare, Ireland. Ed Mooney @EdMooneyPhotography

11. Nenagh Castle, Kildare, Ireland. Ed Mooney @EdMooneyPhotography

Ballyadams Castle is a stunning Castle built by Adam O’Moore in the 15th century. Although in ruin, the Castle still proudly stands unlike the 17th century fortified Manor House which was attached over 200 years later. Very little of this addition is still standing. And being the adventurous type I did manage to safely explore the castle up as far as the third floor. To read more, CLICK HERE.  Carbury is more of a fortified Manor House than a castle but stands on the site of an earlier Norman castle. It has a fascinating history which dates right back to the bronze age, Read all about it HERE.

Next up is Carlow Castle, with a history spanning much of Ireland’s troubles. Built on the site of an earlier Religious settlement. The Castle at Carlow became the home of William Marshall, one of the Norman invaders best soldiers and politicians, before being used as a lunatic asylum. It was the doctor ruining the asylum whom is responsible for much of the castles demise, you can read all about it HERE.  What can I say about Dunamase that has not already been said before, it was one of the first ruins I ever explored and has been visited by thousands of people including myself on numerous occasions. From the early and quite embarrassing images HERE to more recent visits HERE and HERE.

Goat Castle in Dalkey is another fine fortified Tower House which now houses the Dalkey heritage center. You can enjoy a great guided tour of the Castle complete with period dressed actors, check it out HERE. Moving on to Kildare we have the ruins of the 14th century Castle at Kinnefad. One of a number of Castles in the area built by the De Bermingham family along the Offaly/Kildare border. It is now in really bad shape and will probably crumble to the ground if it is not repaired soon, local stories tell of many great battles which took place here. To read more, click HERE. Nearby you will find another of the De Bermingham strongholds, Mac Feorais Castle or Carrick-Oris Castle is another badly damaged ruin from the 15th century. It stands on the site of an earlier Castle built 300 years earlier.It was in this very castle in 1305AD where the notorious Sir Pierce Mc Feorais (Bermingham)whom was also known as the ‘Treacherous Baron’, viciously plotted and murdered  many members of the O’Connor clan. You can find out all about its murderous history HERE. Last but not least is the stunning remains of Nenagh Castle. All that remains is a single circular Tower, but with a fascinating history it is well worth exploring as you can actually climb the very top. Obviously alot of work has been done here to keep the Tower in such great condition. So check it out HERE for the full story.