Burt Castle, County Donegal

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Burt Castle

The castle is about 15 yards by 8 yards , and stands atop Castlehill at an elevation of 270 feet. This is in the modern day townland of Grange, parish of Burt, County Donegal.

Prior to the dissolution of the abbeys by Henry VIII and the shiring of Donegal, the hill and surrounding lands were part of the grange of Macosquin Abbey. There was an abbey building at the foot of the hill.

As of 1609 the castle was occupied by Clan Magwories(?).

As of 1906 the castle had fallen into complete disrepair, although traces remained of the moat. The last reference to the castle in historical records was the year 1641.

As of the mid-1800s, the castle was a part of the farm of the Kerr family, see Unknown Kerr (bef.1780-) and descendants. Their residence was noted as "Castlehill, Burt" even though there was never a townland of that name. The castle is in lot 5 of Grange in Griffith's Valuation.

A large article about the castle's history was published in the Londonderry Sentinel , 3 April 1906 -- well worth reading.

Sources

• "The Castle and Abbey of Burt", Londonderry Sentinel - Tuesday 03 April 1906, Page 5.
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