Derg Castle, also called Castlederg Castle, is a post-medieval ruined fortification, situated on the north bank of the River Derg, within the town of

Castlederg Castlederg (earlier Caslanadergy, ) is a town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It lies on the River Derg and is near the border with County Donegal, Ireland. It stands in the townlands of Castlesessagh and Churchtown, in the historic baro ...

, in County Tyrone,

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...

. It has given the town its name: 'Castlederg' derives from the Irish: ''Caisleán na Deirge'', meaning 'Castle on the Derg'. It is a Scheduled Historic Monument, administered by the Northern Ireland Department for Communities.

History

The earliest record of a castle at Castlederg is from 1497 when, according to the

Annals of Ulster The ''Annals of Ulster'' () are annals of History of Ireland, medieval Ireland. The entries span the years from 431 AD to 1540 AD. The entries up to 1489 AD were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luin� ...

, an O'Donnell castle there was attacked and taken by the O'Neills, only to be recaptured in 1505. It was probably in the style of a square Tower House, strategically positioned to command and defend a ford on the river. The castle changed hands several times in the late 15th and early 16th centuries during the contests for land and supremacy between the warring

O'Neill The O'Neill dynasty ( Irish: ''Ó Néill'') are a lineage of Irish Gaelic origin that held prominent positions and titles in Ireland and elsewhere. As kings of Cenél nEógain, they were historically one of the most prominent family of the Nor ...

and

O'Donnell The O'Donnell dynasty ( or ''Ó Domhnaill,'' ''Ó Doṁnaill'' ''or Ua Domaill;'' meaning "descendant of Dónal") were the dominant Irish clan of the kingdom of Tyrconnell in Ulster in the north of medieval and early modern Ireland. Naming ...

clans. In 1610, under the scheme for the

Plantation of Ulster The Plantation of Ulster (; Ulster Scots dialects, Ulster Scots: ) was the organised Settler colonialism, colonisation (''Plantation (settlement or colony), plantation'') of Ulstera Provinces of Ireland, province of Irelandby people from Great ...

, the area was granted to

Sir John Davies Sir John Davies (16 April 1569 (baptised)8 December 1626) was an English poet, lawyer, and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1597 and 1621. He became Attorney General for Ireland and formulated many of the legal ...

, Attorney General for Ireland, under King James I. The existing castle was reconstructed into a bawn with 3 open flankers. During that time Davies also built Kirlish ('Curlews') Castle and connected them both with a straight causeway which was 7 miles long. In 1619 Captain Nicholas Pynnar, described both castles in a survey: "Sir John Davies, hath 2,000 acres, called Gavelagh and Clonaghmore, alias Castle Dirge and Castle Curlews. Upon this Proportion there are built two strong and fair Castles of Lyme and Stone, but no Bawne to them." In 1622, Derg Castle was described as, "a bawne of stone & lyme, not finished, being 100ft long, 80ft broad & 5ft high, with 3 open Flankers of the same height." During the

Irish rebellion of 1641 The Irish Rebellion of 1641 was an uprising in Kingdom of Ireland, Ireland, initiated on 23 October 1641 by Catholic gentry and military officers. Their demands included an end to anti-Catholic discrimination, greater Irish self-governance, and ...

, Derg Castle was a place of refuge for the local Scottish settler community. The fortifications appear to have been of considerable strength because a small garrison was able to withstand a siege by a much larger force, led by

Sir Phelim O'Neill Sir Phelim Roe O'Neill of Kinard ( Irish: ''Sir Féilim Rua Ó Néill na Ceann Ard''; 1604–1653) was an Irish politician and soldier who started the Irish rebellion in Ulster on 23 October 1641. He joined the Irish Catholic Confede ...

, before being forced to abandon the castle after running out of ammunition. In 1689, during the

Williamite War The Williamite War in Ireland took place from March 1689 to October 1691. Fought between Jacobite supporters of James II and those of his successor, William III, it resulted in a Williamite victory. It is generally viewed as a related conflic ...

, Derg Castle was again garrisoned by the settler population, but surrendered to James II's forces on being promised that their lives would be spared. After this the castle appears not to have been used anymore and fell to ruin.

Present day

At present the tower house has disappeared. The walls and flankers on the south side have largely disappeared due to erosion by the river. Derg Castle can be located at Grid Ref: NV 39666 49068

References

{{coord, 54.7071, -7.5966, type:landmark_region:IE, display=title Castles in County Tyrone Castlederg