#: locale=en
## Tour
### Description
tour.description = Virtual Exhibition of O'Doherty's Keep
### Title
tour.name = O'Doherty's Keep
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Creative Ireland
Established in 2017, Creative Ireland was born out of Ireland 2016, the hugely successful state initiative to mark the hundredth anniversary of the Easter Rising. The Programme drew inspiration from the extraordinary public response to the Centenary and the thousands of largely culture-based events exploring issues of identity, community, culture, heritage and citizenship.
This project has been supported though the support of Donegal County Council, Creative Ireland, and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media.
We would like to thank the National Monuments Service and the Office of Public works for allowing us access and permission to record the keep and reproduce our images for this project.
We would also like to thank Seoirse O'Dochartaigh for his Irish translations to facilitate the tour being reproduced in the Irish Language.
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Lough Neagh Landscape Partnership
Creative Ireland
Established in 2017, Creative Ireland was born out of Ireland 2016, the hugely successful state initiative to mark the hundredth anniversary of the Easter Rising. The Programme drew inspiration from the extraordinary public response to the Centenary and the thousands of largely culture-based events exploring issues of identity, community, culture, heritage and citizenship.
This project has been supported though the support of Donegal County Council, Creative Ireland, and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media.
We would like to thank the National Monuments Service and the Office of Public works for allowing us access and permission to record the keep and reproduce our images for this project.
We would also like to thank Seoirse O'Dochartaigh for his Irish translations to facilitate the tour being reproduced in the Irish Language.
Company Name
www.loremipsum.com
info@loremipsum.com
Tlf.: +11 111 111 111
Company Name
www.loremipsum.com
info@loremipsum.com
Tlf.: +11 111 111 111
About Us
T: +353 86 1292 582
info@odohertyskeep.com
https://www.odohertyskeep.com/
In 2017 the O’Doherty’s Keep Development Group have launched a project to carry out a restoration of the Keep through a careful conservation led restoration programme.
The overall aims and objectives of the Project are:
To provide a unique, authentic and relevant visitor experience to this most scenic location through careful conservation led restoration of the Keep including reinstatement of the floors and roof.
To provide on site a visitor experience all about our ancestors as “Dochartach” descendants - coming to Ireland - you are not so much a visitor - rather you are a home comer!
A major objective is to connect or reconnect with all of the descendants worldwide and to provide reassurance that you are a descendant of the Dochartach Clan from this origin. - As the definition of Heritage states – “That which we inherit”... therefore this project belongs to you!
We hope to make O’ Doherty’s Keep into a place of welcome and of wonderful emotion, as well as learning and of architecture for all - and connecting with all of this - our cultural heritage - which is a manifestation of our history and our roots.
The first stage of the project - the Conservation Plan and Feasibility study are now completed in collaboration with our expert conservation architects. This Conservation Plan will be submitted for state approval in order to proceed with a full scale restoration of the Keep.
The next phases of vital importance will include the restoration of the roof and works to access the building safely planned to begin next year to enable the full scale restoration of the Keep.To do this we are seeking your financial support. All funds raised will go directly towards achieving these next phases during 2022.
About Us
T: +353 86 1292 582
info@odohertyskeep.com
https://www.odohertyskeep.com/
In 2017 the O’Doherty’s Keep Development Group have launched a project to carry out a restoration of the Keep through a careful conservation led restoration programme.
The overall aims and objectives of the Project are:
To provide a unique, authentic and relevant visitor experience to this most scenic location through careful conservation led restoration of the Keep including reinstatement of the floors and roof.
To provide on site a visitor experience all about our ancestors as “Dochartach” descendants - coming to Ireland - you are not so much a visitor - rather you are a home comer!
A major objective is to connect or reconnect with all of the descendants worldwide and to provide reassurance that you are a descendant of the Dochartach Clan from this origin. - As the definition of Heritage states – “That which we inherit”... therefore this project belongs to you!
We hope to make O’ Doherty’s Keep into a place of welcome and of wonderful emotion, as well as learning and of architecture for all - and connecting with all of this - our cultural heritage - which is a manifestation of our history and our roots.
The first stage of the project - the Conservation Plan and Feasibility study are now completed in collaboration with our expert conservation architects. This Conservation Plan will be submitted for state approval in order to proceed with a full scale restoration of the Keep.
The next phases of vital importance will include the restoration of the roof and works to access the building safely planned to begin next year to enable the full scale restoration of the Keep.To do this we are seeking your financial support. All funds raised will go directly towards achieving these next phases during 2022.
The Bridge
This impressive and picturesque six-arch bridge across the river dates to the 18th century and was originally built by Sir George Vaughan. It was built along with the house to continue the approach avenue over the Crana River and into the demesne. It is constructed of local stone, and its continuing use shows the quality of the original build with the original cobbled surface still visible in places.
Buncrana Castle
The large country house known as Buncrana Castle was built or re-built in 1718 by Sir Henry Vaughan as a replacement to the Keep which the Vaughan family had occupied after leasing the land from Sir Arthur Chichester. It was constructed at a time when landowners transitioned from building fortified houses to the classical designs used for country houses during the eighteenth century and is therefore an important example of its kind in Donegal. Theobald Wolfe Tone, a founding member of the United Irishmen, was apparently held at Buncrana Castle having been captured by the British Navy from the French warship La Hoche, off Buncrana in October 1798.
Location
Tower houses like O’Doherty’s Keep were often located on the coast, near rivers or loughs which were important for water-based trade and payments. Often the Irish lords charged dues for services such as fishing, anchorage, shelter and landing rights. Transport and trade would have been easier using rivers and the coast. O’Doherty’s Keep like several other castles in this region was located on the ford of the river, where tidal waters near the river mouth allowed an easier crossing on foot or on horse.
The North Door
The original entrance was located here on the northern side of the Keep. (Plans are in place to possibly re-open this entrance as part of the future restoration project).
Fish weir Location
A fish weir is recorded in this area on the first edition Ordnance Survey in the 1830’s and was most likely the location of a medieval salmon weir controlled by the Keep.
The first floor
The first floor has a grand fireplace on the north wall which could have been used to warm the room and possibly cook on. A recess on the southern side of the chamber leads off to two small room under the stairwell. These may have been a garderobe if this was the private chambers of the keep.
The top floor
The top storey was added in 1602 by Hugh Boy McDavitt (aka O’Doherty). Reputedly, to prepare the Keep for use by Spanish troops as part of an invasion force against the crown. With a fireplace on the north wall and larger windows in the east and west walls this may have been designed as the living chambers for later residents.
What is a tower house?
Tower houses are a common monument in Ireland with both Anglo-Norman and Gaelic lords using this design for homes from the 15th century. It is the most common form of castle found in Ireland with nearly three thousand recorded. They usually consist of a tower with two to four storeys and a walled courtyard or bawn. The entrance was at ground level, and was usually defended by a wall-walk around the top of the tower, arrow or gun loops and sometimes a murder hole.
Stairway
Unlike some of the O’Doherty’s other tower houses with spiral staircases, the stairway here runs around the internal wall to the east and south of the Keep. The slabbed roofed stairs lead from the original entrance to the roof above the second floor.
Tower House Structure
A Tower house served a number of functions in late medieval Ireland, including for defence and as a sign of high status. While it was a defensive structure it also needed to suit the daily life of its inhabitants. The floors would have included a main room or hall for entertaining, a chamber for sleeping and living. They were often located in areas with good natural resources including rich agricultural lands. The Keep was one of a network of tower houses controlled by the O’Doherty’s in the 15th century across Derry and Inishowen.
Fishing
Fish were a major export for the lords of Donegal, with ships coming from across Europe to fish within its waters. In the 15th century Lough Swilly was an important location for herring fishing and the Crana River was a source of salmon which was considered a high-status fish.
Defence loops
Throughout the castle are defensive arrow/gun loops to help repel attacks. This corner overlooked the ford across the river. As control of the area was secured, larger windows were installed in the upper floors of the tower.
The murder hole
Murder holes are often found in the entrance of a tower house or castle. It is a defensive feature for when attackers have breached the doorway. In O’Doherty’s Keep the murder hole is directly above the original entrance and allowed for the castle occupants to pour boiling liquid or hot ashes from the fire onto any unwanted guests!
The Ground Floor
While some tower houses had vaulted ceilings at ground floor, it appears that this was not the case in O’Doherty’s Keep with mortice spaces in the wall for flooring of the first floor.
Cahir O’Doherty
Sir Cahir O’ Doherty was the last lord of Inishowen before the plantation of Ulster, growing tired of his treatment by the English officials in the nearby settlement at Derry he rose in rebellion 1608. His first action was to march on the former O’Doherty fortress at Culmore, having captured it and armed themselves they marched to the town of Derry which had been fortified by Sir Henry Dowcra. The city was captured with several hostages taken for ransom back to the Crown. In the melee the governor of the city, Sir George Paulet, who was blamed for inciting O’Doherty’s rebellion was killed by one of Cahir’s allies. The O'Doherty forces then razed the town, burning every building to the ground.
The rebellion was short lived and O’Doherty was killed in the battle of Kilmacrennan. His head was collected by an English infantryman who was awarded £500 and many of his allies were scattered or captured. Cahir's foster father, Phelim Reagh MacDavitt, the man who may have killed Paulet was captured and executed, his head was placed on a pike next to O’Doherty’s in Dublin.