Rindúin Castle

This is a drawing of how we think Rindúin Castle looked in the twelfth century

 

This is a picture of the Tapestry of Rinduin Castle designed and made by Ms Harlow and her students.
 

Rindúin Castle on the shores of Lough Ree

 
 
The castle at Rindoon, located beside Lough Ree, has been described as " one of the most Important complexes of medieval monuments in Ireland" ~ John Bradley. Before the development of modern transport systems, goods and people were brought more easily by water than overland. The Shannon river was the most important north/south waterway navigated by the Vikings. It had to be crossed by those moving from east to west. Because Rindoon is situated on a peninsula on the west shore of Lough Ree about half way between Lanesboro and Athlone and at a point where the distance from the opposite east shore is quite narrow, it became a place of great strategic importance in the 13th and 14th centuries. Whoever controlled Rindoon controlled Lough Ree and with it the boat traffic up, down and across the river. The site therefore attracted military, civilian, and monastic settlements.
 
John O'Donovan in his "Annals of Ireland" gives us the following dates in the history of Rindoon which he obtained from the Annals of the Four Masters.



 

845 The Vikings Turgesius erected a fort or dún on Lough Ree.

920 The Vikings of Limerick plundered Clonmacnoise and Lough Ree.

1089 The Churchs of Inchcleraun on Lough Ree were Plundered.

1159 Rory O'Conor was in Gailey Castle preparing to take over Rindoon which was six miles away by water. He waited for the severe frost of winter to bear the weight of his forces. They travelled by night pulling their boats across the ice and attacked Rindoon before dawn. As they surprise its defenders they seized the castle quite easily. Some form of fortifications was present at Rindoon in 1201 when John DeCourcy spent one week shipping his men and horses across Lough Ree.

The back wall of the ruins as it stands today
 
Geoffrey de Marisco chose Rindoon as the site of a new royal castle to provide security for a Norman settlement. Work commenced on the construction of the stone heep in 1227.
This site was on the lake shore by a sheltered bay, on an out crop of a rock

1229 The site was attacked and burned by Phelim O'Connor, a rival of Turlough, this may have set back the building work~ it was still unfinished four years later.

The magnificent site of Rindúin Castle
 
1233 Funding was diverted from the castle to repair the bridge at Athlone.

1234 work re-commenced.

1235 First phase was completed- a two storey rectangular keep with cap-towers for visibility over the lake.

1236 another attack by Phelim O'Connor, this time the castle was not captured but the surrounding town at Rindoon was raided.

1237 Phelim O'Connor became king of Connaught and there was peace with the Anglo- Normans until his death in 1265.

The arch at the entrance to the castle

 
 
1270 Norman power in Connaught began to wane. His successor Aodh, was a a ruthless warrior who captured Rindoon twice in 1270 and 1272- this last raid was severe because Rindoon was described as levelled. The surrounding town suffered as severely as the castle.

At the same time Roscommon castle was attacked and demolished, Sligo was raided and Athlone castle was burned.

 

The wall at Rindúin Castle
 

James de Beringham was fined 400 marks for failing to keep Rindoon safe for the crown.

Geoffrey de Geneville became justiciar in 1273 and repair work was carried out between 1273-1275 and by his successor Robert d'Ufford from 1276-1278. this included the construction of timber towers and the improvement of the fosse.

In 1278 £3200 was spent by Ufford on Rindoon, Athlone and Roscommon.

1285 Robert de Wollaston spent £67 on castles at athlone and Rindoon.

1299-1302 Richard of Oxford, Sheriff of Roscommon was allowed £113 to build a new hall and 20s for supervising its construction.

The mote at Rindúin Castle
 
Crossbows and arms were purchased for men appointed to guard the workers.

1310 Alexander Bicknor archbishop of Dublin petitioned for expenses incurred in the guard of Rindoon while he was Lord treasurer.

The Bruce invasion ended this period of stability Rory O'Connor allied himself to Edward Bruce and attacked and burned the towns of Rindoon and Athlone in 1315.

The borough of Rindoon ceased to exist and it paid no further rent to the crown after that date. References to the castle declined from now on.

1321 the O'Reilys and O' Naughtons destroyed the walls but these were later restored.

Side wall of Rindúin Castle
 
1332 The holidays were abandoned and the sheriff of Roscommon proclaimed that if they did not return before Easter their properties would be confiscated and granted to new tenants.

1334 John de Fountayne became Constable of the castle with an annual salary of £40

1340 the castle was captured by the Isish. They do not appear to have entered permanent occupation.

1578 The land was granted to Thomas Chester and George in the Castle. It is not known if either of these lived in the castle but it is evident from the architecture that parts of the castle were re-fortified in the 16th and the 17th century.

A view of the ruins at Rindúin
 
1574 it is reffered to as the "bare castle" and belonged to the Queen in 1603 . It is likely that it ceased to function in the 17th Century.

1641 Sir William Ussher was the proprietor.

1750 Owned by the Hodson Family.

Later in the 18th century it came into the possession of the Gunning Family.

The romantic ruins at Rindúin
 
The Mill

A mill is recorded there in 1273 when forty-five shillings was paid to Richard de Charpent for steel to construct it. The Photo opposite consists of a round mound, Surrounded by a ditch with an external bank. The tower had three floors and survives to its original height.

  
 
Parish Church at Rindúin

First documentary reference in 1302-5 in the taxation records. Building consists of a nave and chancel. The chancel was a later addition but both are probably of 13th century date.

The ruins of the Parish Church at Rindúin