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.