O'Doherty's Castle
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O'Doherty's Castle is a historic site, at a modelled elevation of 52 m. Slieve Main stands 514 m to the north-northeast, 13 miles off. The nearest named place is Inch Castle, a historic site 2.0 miles away. Wild Atlantic Way passes 1.0 miles off.
The story
Burt Castle is a ruined castle located close to Newtowncunningham and Burt, two villages in the east of County Donegal in Ulster, Ireland. Historically it was sometimes spelt as Birt Castle. It is also known by the name O'Doherty's Castle, and should not be mistaken for O'Doherty's Keep near Buncrana. The castle was constructed in the sixteenth century during the reign of Henry VIII. It was a traditional stronghold of the O'Doherty's, protecting the southern edge of their Inishowen Lordship. The design of the castle was strongly influenced by contemporary Z-Plan Scottish fortifications, and anticipated the style of buildings constructed during the Ulster Plantation of the following century. During a disputed succession in 1600, the Crown's Governor of Derry, Sir Henry Docwra, backed the successful candidate, the fifteen-year-old Sir Cahir O'Doherty. O'Doherty wished to break free of the overlordship of Red Hugh O'Donnell and fought on the Crown's side during the Nine Years' War and was knighted for his bravery. Burt Castle was a vital post because it controlled a strategic area, allowing Docwra to bring in food supplies and to open up an offensive again O'Donnell. A garrison of a hundred men under Captain John Vaughan were stationed there.
Following the war O'Doherty continued in his loyalty to the Crown but in 1608, after a dispute with the new Governor of Derry, O'Doherty rose in revolt with the castle as his headquarters. The Burning of Derry in April triggered what became known as O'Doherty's Rebellion. In response the Dublin authorities sent troops to overrun O'Doherty's Inishowen heartlands. After a siege they captured Burt Castle and freed the prisoners taken at Derry who were being held there. Shortly afterwards O'Doherty was killed at the Battle of Kilmacrennan and the rebellion collapsed. During the Williamite War, the castle was the site of a skirmish between Jacobite forces and troops under the overall command of General Percy Kirke who were supporting William III.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Wikidata Q22083891, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.
How to reach it
- 1.0 mi off the Wild Atlantic Way, National
- 8.9 mi off the Causeway Coastal Route
Overlooks nearby
- Manorcunningham view · 6 mi
- Ballymastocker Strand · 12 mi
- Mamore Gap · 15 mi
- Gap of Mamore Viewpoint · 15 mi
Named places within 25 miles
- Inch Castle: 2.0 mi
- KIllydonne Church: 4.3 mi
- Inch Fort: 4.5 mi
- St Mura's Abbey: 4.7 mi
- Rathmullan Fort: 5.3 mi
- Cornamount: 2.2 mi
- Bogay Hill: 2.4 mi
- Taylor's Hill: 2.5 mi
- Greenan Mountain: 3.0 mi
- Ardnamoyle: 3.1 mi
- Dooish Mountain: 4.2 mi
- Car Park: 5.7 mi
- Rathmullan House Walled Garden: 5.7 mi
- Creggan Country Park: 6.2 mi
- Creggan Park: 6.5 mi
- Flight of the Earls: 5.4 mi
- Butterfly: 7.0 mi
- Squirrel: 7.1 mi
- Badger: 7.2 mi
- Fox: 7.2 mi
- Millybay: 2.5 mi
- Mullanadee Shore: 3.4 mi
- Brown Shore: 4.2 mi
- Back Bay: 4.4 mi
- Carricknaha: 4.5 mi
- Craft Village: 7.3 mi
- Ebrington Parade Grounds: 7.8 mi
- Dry Arch Monument: 9.3 mi
- PoleStar Monument: 9.8 mi
- Lurgybrack Open Farm: 10.0 mi
- Museum of Free Derry: 7.2 mi
- Apprentice Boys of Derry: 7.3 mi
- Tower Museum: 7.4 mi
- Foyle Valley Railway Museum: 7.5 mi
- Donegal County Museum: 10.3 mi
- St. Patrick's Well: 3.0 mi
- Saint Boyne's Well: 4.3 mi
- Tober Well: 4.6 mi
- Fahan Holy Well: 4.7 mi
- Doon Well: 12.7 mi
- Cutting Flower Patch: 10.0 mi
- Walled Garden: 10.0 mi
- Walled Garden: 18.5 mi
- Rose Garden: 18.5 mi
- Sensory Garden: 22.2 mi
- Corbylin Waterfall: 11.5 mi
- Dungeon Waterfall: 11.7 mi
- Ness Waterfall Highest Waterfall In Northern Ireland: 13.7 mi
- Glenevin Waterfall: 16.9 mi
- Astelleen Burn Waterfall: 20.2 mi
- Picnic Area: 7.1 mi
- Ballynashallog Picnic Area: 8.0 mi
- McDonald's Outdoor Seating Area: 10.6 mi
- Rathmullan Wood Nature Reserve: 5.4 mi
- Maumlack Corrie Headwall: 22.2 mi
Summits around it
The highest named summits within 13.3 miles of O'Doherty's Castle. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.
| Summit | Bearing | Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slieve Main | NNE 27° | 514 m | 12.9 mi |
| Scalp Mountain | NE 48° | 484 m | 7.3 mi |
| Loughsalt Mountain | WNW 292° | 469 m | 12.3 mi |
| Damph | NNE 32° | 420 m | 13.0 mi |
| Eskaheen Mountain | NE 53° | 418 m | 9.6 mi |
| Crockglass | NE 51° | 397 m | 12.4 mi |
| Leamacrossan Hill | NE 48° | 392 m | 12.8 mi |
| Gregory Hill | WSW 252° | 389.7 m | 13.3 mi |
When to go
Light through the year
| Date | Sunrise | Golden hour | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 06:34 | 17:55 | 18:43 |
| June solstice | 04:51 | 21:12 | 22:14 |
| September equinox | 07:16 | 18:44 | 19:32 |
| December solstice | 08:54 | 14:49 | 16:04 |
Local time (Europe/Dublin).
Where this comes from
Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.
OpenStreetMapWikipediaWikidataOpenStreetMap element node/1557359677
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