Leap Castle
Leap Castle is a castle in County Offaly, Ireland, about four miles north of the town of Roscrea on the R421. It was built in the late 15th century by the O'Bannon family and was originally called "Léim Uí Bhanáin", or "Leap of the O'Bannons". The O'Bannons were the "secondary chieftains" of the territory, and were subject to the ruling O'Carroll clan.
The Annals of the Four Masters record that the Earl of Kildare, Gerald FitzGerald, tried unsuccessfully to seize the castle in 1513. Three years later, he attacked the castle again and managed to partially demolish it. However, by 1557 the O'Carrolls had regained possession.
Following the death of Mulrooney O'Carroll in 1532, family struggles plagued the O'Carroll clan. A fierce rivalry for the leadership erupted within the family. The bitter fight for power turned brother against brother. One of the brothers was a priest. The O'Carroll priest was holding mass for a group of his family (in what is now called the "Bloody Chapel"). While he was chanting the holy rites, his rival brother burst into the chapel, plunged his sword into his brother and fatally wounded him. The butchered priest fell across the altar and died in front of his family.[1]
In 1659, the castle passed by marriage into the ownership of the Darby family, notable members of which included Vice-Admiral George Darby, Admiral Sir Henry D'Esterre Darby and John Nelson Darby. The central keep was later expanded with significant extensions. However in order to pay for these extensions, rents were raised and much of the land accompanying the castle was sold. This is one theorised motivation for the burning of the castle during the Irish Civil War in 1922.
Since 1991, the castle has been privately owned by Seán Ryan, who is undertaking restoration work.
This castle was featured on the cover of several editions of the novel The Riders by the Australian author Tim Winton.
It has been visited by paranormal investigators from Living TV's Most Haunted in its first season.[2]
References
External links
- Simon Marsden
- Castles.org
- Haunted Britain
- Irish Culture and Customs (Last listing)
- Description, history and pictures of Leap Castle
