Carrickoris Castle

AKA Old Carraig Castle

I came across this castle ruin purely by accident while driving from Edenderry to Mullingar. It is located on Carrick Hill three miles north of Edenderry. The castle dates to the 16th century and is built on the site of an earlier one. The ruins of the later castle consist mainly of the south and east walls that stand to almost full height. At the top of the south wall pictured left is an ogee headed window made with decorated stone. Also on the south wall, in the top western corner is a projection, pictured bottom left, that may have been a defensive structure or possibly a latrine chute.

The earlier castle is where the infamous Sir Pearce Bermingham, who was known as the treacherous Baron, and Jordan Cumin murdered 32 leaders of the O'Conor Faly, including Muirchertach O Conor. According to the annals of the Four Masters, Sir Pierce McFeorais (Bermingham) from whom the castle is named after, invited them to his court on the feast of the Holy Trinity. When they stood up from the table Cumin and his comrades cruelly murdered them. O'Neill and other Irish chieftains remonstrated to Pope John the XX11, but when Bermingham was brought before the King of England no justice was obtained. The ruin stands in a field next to the graveyard of the old Carrick Parochial church.

Situated: From Edenderry drive north on the R401. Just after the right turn for Carbury the road bends sharp left . The castle is on your right.

Discovery Map 49: N 6398 3686. Last visit Sept 2011.

Longitude: 7° 2' 18" W

Latitude: 53° 22' 41" N

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Photos: Jim Dempsey.