Tully Castle Co Fermanagh

                                                  Above Image: The entry gate

                                                    

                                        Above and Below Image: The entry door

                                       Above Image: Inner stairs to first floor level

                                                    Above Image: Upper level

                                  Above Image: View of bawn and South facing wall

                                  Above Image: Remains of South East bawn tower

                                          Above Image: Remnants at East wall

                                        Above Image: Remains of the bawn walls

                                     Above Image: Remains of North East turret

On a recent trip to County Donegal we found ourselves driving through the Northern county of Fermanagh and while alongside the Southern shore of Lough Erne we came across the ruins of this interesting castle on Tully Point.
Tully Castle had a short life as a residence lasting less than 30 years! It was built by Sir John Hume, a settler from Scotland, between the years 1611 and 1613 and was modelled upon the Scottish style of fortified residences. It's main purpose was defense mostly against attack from the native Irish clans. Around the sturdy house he built a large hundred foot square bawn and positioned defensive towers on each corner.
Unfortunately it was not strong enough to outlast an attack made by Rory Maguire during the 1641 rebellion who struck while the garrison was absent, fighting elsewhere leaving the Humes and the inhabitants of the nearby village without protection. Hume had the villagers take refuge in the castle but to no avail. Once the castle was taken, the Humes' were allowed to leave but the villagers were imprisoned in the cellar area and at some point later the castle was burned with no survivors remaining from the fire.
This tragic event spelled the end of Tully Castle and it was never inhabited again eventually falling into ruin.
However in 1974 a project began and the site was landscaped with the castle rendered safe for public  access. A small visitor centre has been set up in an adjacent farm house.
When we visited we took the long somewhat grassy lane up from the main road to a small car park/picnic area and were surprised to find we were alone. This was early August and a decent enough summer's day. One explanation might be is that there is a looped walk available here so a lot of people were probably somewhere along the trail.
After a short walk from the car park a small wooden access gate brings you straight into the castle area and they are very striking ruins indeed. The large expanse of the former bawn is represented by partial remains which are tallest on the Eastern side. The main house has the remains of a North Eastern turret and an entry door in the South side. There is a large chimney block on the East side extending to all floors.The building appears to be T-shaped and three storeys high.

Access to the upper floor is possible and a good stairs has been provided but it can be erratic for times of opening and a sign clearly states it closes at 4PM.
 

To find the ruins take the A46 from Enniskillen towards Belleek for about 20KM and you will pass a left turn for Churchill (Binmore Rd). Drive on another 400m and you will see a right hand turn signposted for Tully castle. Turn down this road and follow the track (approx. 1.2KM) right to the end where you will find a small car park. It's a short stroll to the castle.

St. Patrick's Footprint Lullymore Co Kildare

                               Above Image: Artist's impression of the monastic site

                                       Above Image: Laneway entrance from road

                                       Above Image: Graveyard entrance with stile

                                       Above Image: Grave slab embedded in wall

                                              Above Image: Ancient stone font 

                                             Above Image: Footprint marker stone

                                        Above Image: The footprint in the stone.

                        Above Image: Aerial photo on display board showing graveyard 

                                                and ancient enclosure

                                          Above Image: 1798 rebellion memorial

 

Lullymore, basking in the backwaters of Kildare. A quiet bucolic spot but with plenty of history about it. When I first heard of "St. Patrick's footprint" the engine of the car was already running in anticipation and so on a bright warm day in early may we aimed straight for this site in the lovely county of the Lilywhites.
We understood that the said "footprint" was located in Lullymore East graveyard which in itself is the centre of a huge ancient enclosure which is still partly in evidence by way of surrounding ditches that have been excavated.
When St. Patrick came to Ireland he visited the area of Lullymore and following the conversion of the pagan druid Erc to Christianity he instructed his new convert to found a monastery for scholars which Erc then set about building on an ancient pagan henge that had been familiar to him. The melding of the old ways with the new it would seem.
This monastery founded in the 5th century became quite significant and was sited on an inland island of fertile land 93m above sea level. It was completely surrounded by the peatland of the Bog of Allen making it difficult to attack. But eventually it did fall foul of assailants and came to an end in the late medieval period. The lands were confiscated and came under the ownership of the Earl of Kildare in 1641. Today only remnants from the monastery era remain. No ecclesiastical structures are extant at the site.
When we arrived at the small junction that has a laneway leading up to the graveyard we found the lane was blocked by a large metal gate and some CCTV warning signs were clearly displayed. Not to be put off by this we crossed to the Bog of Allen heritage centre and were advised there that the gate is unlocked and just to "close it after you"  So with spirits renewed we followed the instuctions and drove up a long gravel track right to the boundary wall of the graveyard.
We accessed the enclosure by way of an unlocked metal gate although there was a formidable stile available as well.
After a circuit of the interior we came across an ancient font which was a remnant from an early church and now has a permenant position in the graveyard but there was no sign of the "footprint."
We did find embedded in the graveyard wall to the left of the entrance gate one of thirteen known grave markers that existed in the monastery. Eight more are in the wall of a monument back at the entrance to the heritage centre. The final four are lost to the sands of time.
Puzzled by the absence of the rock containing the footprint we eventually searched outside of the graveyard and found it in a small railed area a few yards back along the track. There is a monument beside it detailing its history. Indeed the graveyard also has a detailed board displaying historical info and photos. The said footprint is a foot shaped depression in the top of a large rounded rock and to all intents and ourposes it resembles a bullaun stone as rainwater collects within it.
The only area inaccessible to the public is the adjacent ditch excavation area which is on private property populated by a herd of enthusiastic cows.
Back to the footprint. On measuring our feet against it, it appears to be a size 6!
Outside on the main road opposite the laneway to the graveyard is a memorial to the 1798 rebellion and the significant involvement in it of Captain John Doorly, a Lullymore native. We checked and indeed eight grave slabs have been incorporated into a crescent shaped wall behind the monument stone. The site at Lullymore is well worth a visit and you could also incorporate a visit to the brilliant Bog of Allen heritage centre.

To find Lullymore graveyard take the junction 9a exit from the M7 heading on the R407 for Clane. Follow the signs for 8KM until you enter Clane. In the town take the left hand turn opposite the old church onto the R403. Drive approx. 11KM through the villages of  Prosperous and Allenwood. About 1KM further from Allenwood take a left hand turn over a stone bridge crossing the canal onto the R414 signposted for Rathangan. Drive along this road for approx. 3.5KM and you will reach Lullymore. Watch out for a long grey single storey building on your right with a sign for the Bog of Allen nature centre. The laneway to the graveyard is opposite the end of this building. You can park at the gate and take a walk (about 500m) or drive up to the graveyard remembering to close the gate after you on entry and exit. The property here belongs to Lullymore farms ltd.


GPS   53.274995  -6.935464