Qualla: Castle Maine

Castle Maine: Introduction

Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Ian S, CC BY-SA 2.0. The castle was built on the bridge. Not beside it, not at one end of it - on it, in the middle, where the River Maine ran below and the only road between Kerry's interior and its southwest peninsulas crossed over. Maurice Fitzgerald built it in 1215 because the river flooded during heavy rains and became impassable, which meant whoever held this crossing held the country south of it. For four hundred and thirty-seven years, Castle Maine was one of the most fought-over fortifications in Munster - besieged, surrendered, retaken, garrisoned, demolished, rebuilt. Then in 1652 Cromwell's army arrived and tore it down for good. What remains today are the bridge foundations: unusually broad, with large stone arches, holding up nothing.

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Image: Ian S | CC BY-SA 2.0

Castle Maine: A Castle in the Middle of a River

Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Ian S, CC BY-SA 2.0. Maurice Fitzgerald, possibly a son of Thomas FitzMaurice FitzGerald, built Castle Maine in 1215 on a bridge across the River Maine, near what is now the village of Castlemaine in County Kerry. The river marked the southern boundary of land newly conquered from the MacCarthy Mor d...

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Image: Ian S | CC BY-SA 2.0

Castle Maine: Perrot's Sieges

Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit portrait by George Powle, Public domain. During the Desmond Rebellions of the late sixteenth century, Castle Maine became one of the last possessions of the Earl of Desmond. In 1571 Sir John Perrot, Lord Deputy of Ireland, summoned the chieftains of Munster to meet him at the castle with their forces on 24 June, intendi...

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Image: portrait by George Powle | Public domain

Castle Maine: Thirteen Months

Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Ian S, CC BY-SA 2.0. The Nine Years' War brought the castle back to the centre of events. By December 1597, Sir Thomas Norris recorded that Castle Maine was the last fortress in Munster outside Cork that had not surrendered to forces loyal to Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone. In October 1598, a force led...

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Image: Ian S | CC BY-SA 2.0

Castle Maine: Demolished and Remembered

Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Ian S, CC BY-SA 2.0. When the Irish Rebellion of 1641 broke out, the castle was attacked by Daniel McCarthy of the Irish Catholic Confederates and taken after a few days. The Irish Confederates held it until 1649, when it was surrendered to David Crosbie acting for Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchi...

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Image: Ian S | CC BY-SA 2.0