The colourful story of this castle will soon be revealed in all its glory by means of a riveting documentary which will retell its unique history. 'The Castle of the Island' 2020 I am a graduate of University College Cork, where I studied Archaeology. The ruins of my local castle in Castleisland, have since an early age, captivated my imagination. In recent years my personal interest with this for
tress grew stronger and I continued my search to unearth the lost story of this enigmatic monument. Finally following years of research I have unearthed the missing pieces of its past and the time has now come for the spectacular history of this great Desmond castle to be retold. The true significance of Castleisland Castle has never been fully acknowledged or treasured. This great Desmond castle once dominated the Castleisland valley but overtime its physical remains and story were plundered and lost in time. Its crumbling walls and fragmented remains now lie hidden under a blanket of ivy which now holds this once stronghold together. No comprehensive study of its past has ever been undertaken or completed. That is until now. In order to give this voice an entity, a new society has been established entitled “The Castle of the Island Society”. The members include:
1 Rob McGuire
2 Tom McCarthy
3 Denis Divane
4 Maggie Keane
5 Charlie Daly
6 Rita McCarthy
7 Eamon Breen
8 Eamon Fleming
This society aims to preserve the castle and present its story for the first time. This will be undertaken by means of producing an engaging documentary which will chart the history of Castleisland Castle throughout the ages. We aim to produce this project through attaining funding from regional and national bodies. This documentary will explore many facets of the medieval world. We will reveal what life was like in medieval Kerry and how its landscape was radically different to what we see today. Also we will explore the arrival of the Anglo Normans into Kerry and the castles which they constructed. But primarily, we will focus on the life and times of the chief inhabitants of Castleisland Castle, the Fitzgeralds, the earls of Desmond. Ultimately we will digitally reconstruct the great Desmond castle for the first time. A number of specialists, historians and archaeologists will be interviewed as part of this production. For over 250 years the Fitzgeralds, the earls of Desmond (south Munster) were one of the most powerful families in Medieval Ireland. Also known as the Geraldines, the Desmond Fitzgeralds ruled their lordship from various castles such as Castleisland Castle. This stronghold was referred to during medieval times (from the 12th to the 16th century) as the “Castle of the Island” or simply “the Island”. The Castle of the Island was constructed by the Anglo-Norman, Shanid Geraldines on the banks of the river Maine around 1226. It later became one of the key fortresses of the Desmond Fitzgerald's, who ruled over Castleisland castle and beyond for over 250 years. The final earl of Desmond, Gerald Fitzgerald failed in his rebellion against the Elizabethan forces. He was ruthlessly beheaded deep in the dense woods of Glanageenty near Castleisland in November 1583. This brought an end to the Desmond Fitzgerald reign in Munster. The scene was now set for the plantation of Munster to begin. Sir William Herbert of Wales was granted the dispossessed lands of the last earl of Desmond in Castleisland. Herbert and other loyal tenants of his Protestant elite resided in Castleisland Castle from 1590 until it was finally abandoned for a more suitable mansion sometime in the 1680's. Filming is scheduled to commence in late summer 2017. This will be followed by a FREE premiere of the documentary will be shown over a number of nights in Castleisland town once the post production is completed. This unique story has it all, tales of conquest, bloody sieges, love, war, betrayal and loss. Ultimately this is a gripping human story which explores life and survival in medieval Ireland. This prominent castle, after which Castleisland town was established, deserves to be preserved in remembrance and respect to those who have come before us, as well as for the generations to follow. This documentary will be the first of its kind in County Kerry and it will ensure that the history and legacy of Castleisland Castle will be resurrected and preserved forever. This the first step on a long road to revealing and preserving, both the physical remains and the unique history of the Castle of the Island located in the heart of County Kerry. By Robert McGuire
Chairperson of “The Castle of the Island Society”
Email: [email protected]
How will donors be acknowledged? All donors will be acknowledged in the following ways:
1 First the names of each donor will be listed in the end credits of the documentary.
2. A plaque with the names of each donor will be erected near the castle.
3 Also the names of each donor will be listed in the planned "Castleisland Tourist Office", which will feature a section related to Castleisland Castle. Details below. Thank you. The Castle of the Island
Allied Irish Bank
National Sort Code 93-62-51
Account No: 11238038
BIC: AIBKIE2D
IBAN: IE40AIBK93625111238038
