School: Taobh Breac (roll number 15227)

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1. O'Neills and O'Donnells, Killgordon Castle (continued)

   

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   (continued from previous page)

   and district. Another story from Mr. Noonan Killygordon says that a Mansfield eloped with one of the ODonnell Ladies, where she maneuvered the drawbridge across the moat.

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

2. Castlefin

   

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   (Since I have written this I have discovered a book which gives local fights between ONeills and ODonnells in the Finn Valley. It was published by the “Derry Journal in 1864, and is in possession of Miss R. Gallen N.T. Tievebrack) Mrs Doherty tells me that the Castlefin castle was a stronghold for the Gallaghers who were then a powerful tribe under ODonnell. ODonnell is supposed to have asked the Gallaghers to strengthen the castle against the ONeill invasion. But Gallagher and his followers are supposed to have gone across into ONeills, somewhere in the direction of the Raws, as a sign that he was strong enough. The exact location of this castle is also a subject for divergent opinions. I would be inclined to support the idea that it was on the town side of the Bridge, where an old piece of a wall in the water there is known as the “Castle Wall” and again at the back of the Railway station is a little waste plot known as the “Castle Garden”. The material of the Castle is supposed to have been used in building the present market house, which starts in the “Diamond” of the village.

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Language

   English

   Location

   Castlefinn, Co. Donegal

   Collector

   Donnachadh E. Mac Congáile

   Gender

   Male

   Occupation

   Múinteoir

   Informant

   Mrs Doherty

   Gender

   Female