Carrickabraghy Castle 3.09

Athlone,
Ireland

About Carrickabraghy Castle

Carrickabraghy Castle Carrickabraghy Castle is a well known place listed as Landmark in Athlone , Historical Place in Athlone ,

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Carrickabraghy Castle stands on a rocky outcrop at the north-western extremity of the Isle of Doagh, at the head of Pollan Bay, in the parish of Clonmany, in the Barony of Inishowen, County Donegal, Republic of Ireland. Known locally as 'The Castles', it is a place of captivating beauty, steeped in history with tales of bravery and battles, and of foreign invasion and revolt. The site is of significant importance to both local and national Irish history.NameWhilst it is accepted that the Irish word 'Carraig' means rock, there is some debate as to the meaning of 'Bhrachai'. It is thought the word could be a personal name, as it is mentioned in the pre-Norman genealogy of the Cineal Fhearghasa, and could be an ancestor of the McFall sept. Machtochair, in his book Inishowen, Its History, Traditions and Antiquities says Carraig Bhrachai means 'The Friars Rock'.HistoryFrom the ninth to the thirteenth century Inishowen was politically divided into three 'tuatha' or districts. These were known as Aileach in the south, Bredach to the east and Carraig Bhrachai to the west. The Lords of Carraig Bhrachai were the O Maolfabhail sept (anglicised McFall), who were descended from Cineal Fhearghasa, a branch of Cineal Eoghain. They ruled from the town-land of Carrickabraghy, the area where the Castle now stands. They were one of the most important families in Inishowen.The earliest historical mention of Carrickabraghy comes in The Annals of the Four Masters;In 834 The monarch Niall Caille led an army into Leinster; one of his officers, Fearghas, son of Badhbhchadh, lord of Carraig Bhrachai, was killed by Munstermen.