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Caher or An Chathair in Irish meaning a stone fort, is built in the middle of the River Suir on an island. The castle giving the name to the town that now surrounds it. The book of Lecan mentions the destruction of a fort here in the 3rd century. The Caher Castle we see now was built in the 15th and 16th centuries by the Butler family. In 1599 the Earl of Essex who had been made the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland by Elizabeth I, laid siege to the castle for 10 days when he finally took possession. Until then it had been impregnable. He fired cannon at it and to this day there are several cannonballs embedded in the walls. There is a high-walled outer and inner ward, and a gate with portcullis. Within is the massive Keep. The rooms have displays of armour and weapons, and there is a round tower with trap door leading to the castle prison. The Great Hall although only dating from 1840 has a fine hammerbeam ceiling. On the banks of the river are the remains of Caher Abbey founded in the time of King John. Four miles away at the Mote of Knockgraffon many Munster Kings were crowned, before this event switched to Cashel. |
