This castle, known as Roslee or O'Dowd Castle, was built in 1207 by the O'Dowd's for Oliver MacDonnell who came to Tireragh (a territory known at that time as Tír Fhíacrach Múaidhe to marry an O'Dowd widow.
The castle remained in the possession of the MacDonnells till 1641 or 1691, when it became the property of a man named Ormsby. It is reported that in 1836 the castle was in the possession of Jones of Fortland Estate, but Jones went broke following the last Famine and the estate was sold to a certain Brinkley.
In the 1980's the Easky people established a fund to save the castle from further deterioration.
Most of the original building has been lost over time, and today only the tower house, which is about 19 metres high at its highest point, survives. This highest point is known as "The Sailor's Bed".
The entrance to the castle is through a doorway in the south (190°) wall. At the ground level, part of a vaulted ceiling can be seen.
There are mural stairs with the entrance in the east wall. These stairs lead up to the wall-walk at the parapet level. No floors survived, so the visitors that go up to the parapet do it at their own risk.
The views from the parapet are fantastic.
|