Location: banks of Lough Gill Map
Constructed: 1610 by Roger Parke
Parke's Castle stand on the banks of Lough Gill.
Parke's Castle was constructed in 1610 by Roger Parke. Parks Castle
was built on the site of an older castle that belonged to the Irish
clan O'Rourke (Wi Ruirk), dating from the beginning of the 15th
century. These lands were captured by the English colonist Robert
Park in 1610 after the completion of the conquest of Ireland by
England and built a new castle here. The ancient walls were
basically preserved - pentagonal in plan. But the ancient tower was
destroyed and a new one was built. A new three-story manor was built
on the eastern side of the castle, new pipes and windows were built.
One of the two round flanks guards the north wall. The other
protects the gate leading to the main building. In the courtyard
there are stone buildings, a covered well. At the back of the
Parke's castle there is a gate leading to the lake. In the XVII
century, the water level in the lake was 3 m higher than the current
one and the water approached the very walls of the castle. The lake
was connected to a moat surrounding the castle.
Excavations in 1972 - 1973 opened the base of the ancient castle and
tower of the O'Rourke clan under the cobblestones of the castle
courtyard. Now these foundations are available for inspection. It
was in this tower that Francisco de Quellar, an officer of the
Invincible Armada of the Spanish fleet, whose ship crashed off the
coast of Ireland, was located. Here he communicated with the owner
of the castle - Sir Brian O'Rourke. Later, Francisco de Queliard,
returning to his homeland, wrote: "Although this leader is a savage,
he is a good Christian and an enemy of heretics, and is waging a
constant war with them." O'Rourke was captured in English, accused
of "high treason" and executed in London in 1591. Robert Park, who
subsequently acquired these confiscated lands, remained living in
Newtown, Parks Castle mostly stood empty.
Not far south-east from Parke's Castle are the ruins of Durai Castle
(from the Irish Dubshreich) - another former fortress of the O'Ruirk
clan. The ruins of Durai Castle are located on a small peninsula on
Loch Gill Lake. Most of the foundations and ruins of this castle are
now underground. Duruy Castle Ruins is located on the north coast of
Loch Hill, not far from the main Sligo – Dromgeyer road (R286).
At the end of the 20th century, a large-scale restoration of Parke's
Castle took place. The restoration was carried out by the Public
Works Office of Ireland. Windows, wooden constructions of the
castle, and a roof using the technique of the 17th century were
restored.
Park Castle is located 5 km (3 miles) northwest of the village of
Dromahire near the road to Sligo (R286), 12 km (7 miles) from Sligo.
The castle is open for tourists from late March to late September.