Limavady Castle (Léim an Mhadaidh), also known as O'Cahans Castle, is a ruined castle in

County Londonderry County Londonderry (Ulster-Scots: ''Coontie Lunnonderrie''), also known as County Derry ( ga, Contae Dhoire), is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, one of the thirty two counties of Ireland and one of the nine counties of Ulste ...

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label=Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. North ...

. It was once a stronghold of the

O'Cahans The O'Cahan ( Irish: ''Ó Catháin'' 'descendants of Cahan') were a powerful sept of the Northern Uí Néill’s Cenél nEógain in medieval Ireland. The name is presently anglicized as Keane, O'Kane and Kane. The O'Cahan's originated in La ...

. In 1542, the

MacQuillans Clan McQuillan ( ga, Mac Uighilín) is an Irish clan that descends from the north coast of County Antrim in Ulster in the north-east of Ireland. Still a popular name throughout County Antrim, the McQuillans are known mostly for their association wit ...

, accompanied by

James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormond James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormond and 2nd Earl of Ossory ( – 1546), known as the Lame ( Irish: ''Bacach''), was in 1541 confirmed as Earl of Ormond thereby ending the dispute over the Ormond earldom between his father, Piers Butler, 8th Earl ...

, the

Lord High Treasurer of Ireland The Lord High Treasurer of Ireland was the head of the Exchequer of Ireland, chief financial officer of the Kingdom of Ireland. The designation ''High'' was added in 1695. After the Acts of Union 1800 created the United Kingdom of Great Britain ...

and a large body of English, besieged and took the castle, slaughtering the whole garrison.

Citations

External links

*http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/search/fr.cfm?rcn=NISMR-LDY016:003
Castles in County Londonderry Ruined castles in Northern Ireland {{NorthernIreland-castle-stub