Page 10 - A Ancient East (complete)_Neat

Huntington Castle

The modern history of Hun-
tington Castle coincides with
the beginning phase of the
final colonisation of the Gael-
ic tribes of the south-east. It
came into the hands of the
Old-English (Anglo-Norman)
Esmond family about 1615.
They built the present defen-
sive structure in 1625.

The Esmonds associated
themselves with the Ma-
cEochaidh (Keogh) poetic A row of ancient yew trees planted in the
th
family during the 17 century grounds of Huntington Castle by monks of a
through several leases of nearby monastery before the castle was built
parts of their newly acquired
estates in the area. It is specu-
lated that by facilitating the old bardic family they helped to ingratiate themselves
with the Gaelic tribes of the area who were hostile to newcomers.

Garryhill Fort

The site of the ancient
Garryhill fort was built by
Art Og Kavanagh (King
of Leinster). During the
th
last decade of the 14
century, Art lived at this
location. It was here that
he had a narrow escape
from King Richard II on
his first expedition. Unfor-
tunately, there are no rem-
nants to be seen above
ground of this famous
Most of the material culture of the Gaelic Irish of structure. The present Gar-
the south-east is missing ryhill House was built on
the site by the Earl of
Bessborough (Viscount
Duncannon) around 1740.

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