NOT A LOT TO SEE
In the heart of County Kildare, the town of Maynooth, a mere stone's throw from Dublin, boasts a rich history that stretches back centuries. Its most notable landmark, Maynooth Castle, stands as a silent sentinel, its weathered walls whispering tales of a bygone era.
Built in the early 13th century, the castle quickly became a stronghold for the FitzGerald dynasty, the Earls of Kildare, one of the most powerful families in Ireland. The castle's imposing keep, constructed around 1200, was a testament to their wealth and influence, its sheer size dwarfing many other keeps of its time. The Fitzgeralds' red saltire, now known as the St. Patrick's Cross, would later be incorporated into the British Union Flag, representing Ireland.
The castle's fortunes waxed and waned with those of the FitzGeralds, reaching its zenith under Garret Mór, the Great Earl of Kildare, who ruled Ireland in the name of the English king from 1487 to 1513. However, the FitzGeralds' power was not to last. Their involvement in various rebellions against the English Crown eventually led to their downfall, and the castle suffered significant damage in 1535 during the rebellion of "Silken Thomas" Fitzgerald, the 10th Earl of Kildare. His uprising led to a siege of the castle, during which it was bombarded with heavy artillery, leaving much of the medieval structure in ruins.
While the castle was returned to the FitzGeralds, it never fully recovered from this destruction. Over the following centuries, it was sporadically repaired and even expanded, but its strategic importance diminished as the FitzGeralds gradually shifted their focus to other residences, notably Carton House.
The final blow came in the 1640s during the Irish Confederate Wars, when the castle was once again caught in the crossfire and suffered further damage. By this point, the FitzGeralds had largely abandoned Maynooth Castle, rendering it vulnerable to neglect and decay.
The castle's ruined state today is thus a result of both deliberate destruction during times of conflict and gradual deterioration due to neglect. The once-proud seat of the Earls of Kildare stands as a poignant reminder of the changing fortunes of one of Ireland's most powerful families and the turbulent history of the country itself.
As for the FitzGeralds, they eventually regained their prominence, but their seat of power shifted to Carton House. The family continues to hold the title of Duke of Leinster, with Carton House remaining their ancestral home.
Built in the early 13th century, the castle quickly became a stronghold for the FitzGerald dynasty, the Earls of Kildare, one of the most powerful families in Ireland. The castle's imposing keep, constructed around 1200, was a testament to their wealth and influence, its sheer size dwarfing many other keeps of its time. The Fitzgeralds' red saltire, now known as the St. Patrick's Cross, would later be incorporated into the British Union Flag, representing Ireland.
The castle's fortunes waxed and waned with those of the FitzGeralds, reaching its zenith under Garret Mór, the Great Earl of Kildare, who ruled Ireland in the name of the English king from 1487 to 1513. However, the FitzGeralds' power was not to last. Their involvement in various rebellions against the English Crown eventually led to their downfall, and the castle suffered significant damage in 1535 during the rebellion of "Silken Thomas" Fitzgerald, the 10th Earl of Kildare. His uprising led to a siege of the castle, during which it was bombarded with heavy artillery, leaving much of the medieval structure in ruins.
While the castle was returned to the FitzGeralds, it never fully recovered from this destruction. Over the following centuries, it was sporadically repaired and even expanded, but its strategic importance diminished as the FitzGeralds gradually shifted their focus to other residences, notably Carton House.
The final blow came in the 1640s during the Irish Confederate Wars, when the castle was once again caught in the crossfire and suffered further damage. By this point, the FitzGeralds had largely abandoned Maynooth Castle, rendering it vulnerable to neglect and decay.
The castle's ruined state today is thus a result of both deliberate destruction during times of conflict and gradual deterioration due to neglect. The once-proud seat of the Earls of Kildare stands as a poignant reminder of the changing fortunes of one of Ireland's most powerful families and the turbulent history of the country itself.
As for the FitzGeralds, they eventually regained their prominence, but their seat of power shifted to Carton House. The family continues to hold the title of Duke of Leinster, with Carton House remaining their ancestral home.
NOT A LOT TO SEE