Sligo Castle
Sligo Castle (Irish: Caisleán Sligigh) was a Norman era castle built in 1245 in Sligo Town in Connacht in the west of Ireland. The castle is no longer extant but it was of great importance in the history of the West of Ireland It is mentioned in the annals numerous times.
Location
The location is currently not certain. Thought to be on the site of the present Town Hall on Quay Street. An image exists painted by a military surveyor in 1688.
History
After the arrival of the justiciar (representative) of the King of England, Maurice Fitzgerald land was granted to the clergyman Clarus MacMailenn of Lough Cé intended for the construction of a hospital.The building materials were gathered but the order was then switched to a castle by Fitzgerald, who having the upper hand, ordered the building of a castle to secure the position. Fedlim O'Conchobar, King of Connacht was ordered to build a castle by Maurice Fitzgerald, the Norman baron and warrior. Maurice used the castle as a base to invade Tir Conaill (Donegal).
"The castle of Sligo was built by Mac Muiris FitzGerald, Justiciar of Ireland, and by the Sil Murray. For Fedlim O Conchobair was bidden to build it at his own cost and to take the stones and lime of the spital house of the Trinity for the building, though the Justiciar had previously given that site to Clarus Mag Mailin in honour of the Holy Trinity." (Annals of Connacht, 1245)
Stone Fort was built on the site after the 1641rebellion.
Described by soldiers during the siege of 1691 as "the crazie castle".