Monea Castle

Monea Castle lies in the rural countryside, east of the village by the same name, northwest of the town of Enniskillen, in County Fermanagh, in Northern Ireland. It stands on a rocky bluff, above a small dried up lake with a crannog.

Monea Castle was built around 1618 by the Rector of Devenish, the Reverend Malcolm Hamilton, during the Plantation. The oblong tower house, 3 stories high, with its characteristic Scottish style, stood in the corner of a rectangular bawn, with 2 circular flankers. This bawn was built in 1622 shortly before Hamilton was promoted to become Archbishop of Cashel in 1623.

During the Irish Rebellion of 1641 Monea Castle was attacked by Rory Maguire. Shortly after it was refurbished and used again by the Planters.

In 1688 Monea Castle was occupied by Gustavus Hamilton, Governor of Enniskillen, who had incurred enormous financial losses in the Williamite Wars. After he died in 1691 his greatly impoverished wife and children continued to live at the castle, but had to sell the estate in 1704.

In 1750 Monea Castle was gutted by fire and subsequently abandoned.

In the 20th century a woman named Beth McCabe took her residence in a vault beneath one of the towers until she was evicted by the proprietor.

This is a beautiful, remote castle ruin, situated in an idyllic landscape. It is one of my favorites and I really recommend a visit! It is freely accessible.

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