Castle Roche

Castle Roche

 

Location: Northwest of Dundalk Map

Constructed: 1236 by De Verdun (De Verdon) family

 

Castle Roche is a medieval fortress that stands on a hill Northwest of Dundalk in County Louth in Ireland. Castle Roche was erected in 1236 by De Verdun (De Verdon) family.

 

The history of the castle Roche
The aristocratic De Verdun family comes from Belton in Leicestershire and from Alton in Staffordshire. Bertram de Verdun participated in the Anglo-Norman conquest of Ireland, was an associate of Prince John (the future king of England, John the Landless), participated in the first campaign of Prince John in Ireland. In 1185 (possibly earlier) he built a castle and village on Castletown mountain. Subsequently, this village received the status of a city in 1189.

Bertram's granddaughter-Roguesia de Verdun originally from Alton (England) was married to Tiobald Le Botiller — II chief Butler (cupbearer) of Ireland. After the sudden death of her husband during his journey to Poitou (France), she moved to Ireland. Their possession she began to strengthen the construction of a powerful castle. She needed an experienced architect to build the castle. But her reputation put off all builders and architects. Then she offered her hand and heart to one of the architects, who flattered her huge wealth. According to local legend, the wedding took place after the completion of the castle. After the wedding, the bride invited her husband to climb the tower of the castle and explore their new possessions looking out of the window. As he admired the surroundings, she abruptly pushed the man, he fell from the tower and crashed to his death. This window was called the "murder Window". Rogesa then went to the monastery Prorack Greedy (England, Leicestershire), where he died in 1247. She was buried in Belton Church, her grave still standing. Although it is believed that the castle was built by roguesie, but most of the castle was completed by her son Theobald. The name of the castle roach or Roche comes from the name "Castle Rules".

The castle occupied a strategic position on the border between Pale (an English colony in Ireland) and Ulster, which was then owned by rebellious Irish clans. The castle controlled the passage to the land of ARMA. The feudal lords De Verdun owned this castle for several centuries. Nicholas de Verdun owned this castle in 1316, when the war of independence was fought in Ireland under the leadership of the high king of Ireland Edward Bruce-brother of king Robert and Bruce of Scotland. The castle played an important role in the events of 1561, when England greatly expanded its possessions in Ireland. In 1640, a rebellion broke out for Irish independence. The owners of the castle supported the rebels and the flag of the Irish Confederation flew over the castle. In 1641, the castle was destroyed by the English troops of Oliver Cromwell and after that was not restored and still lies in ruins.