There was a Jonathan Darby, Captain of Sussex Horse, in 1553, and perhaps it was during this expedition that the romance before related took place. A tomb in the neighbouring graveyard records the death of a Jonathan Darby in 1601.
It is said an inquisition was called at Lemyvanane in 1568 for the preparation of a deed by which Ely O’Carroll was surrendered to the king by “Sir William O’Kerroll,” to whom it was restored by letters patent, but there is some confusion about the dates and conditions of the several transfers.
In 1604 Ely O’Carroll was annexed to the King’s County.
During the Parliamentary wars, Mr. Darby, of Leap, espoused the King’s cause, and tradition avers that Cromwell appeared before the castle saying that if they did not surrender in twenty-four hours he would blow them out with a pump-stick. The fortress was not tenable in the event of cannon being used, as it is commanded from many points.
A weird story is told of the Jonathan Darby of the time, usually known as “the wild Captain.” It is said before he surrendered the castle he collected all his money and treasure and with the aid of two servants hid it somewhere in the walls of the fortress. He then sent one of them for his sword and in the meantime threw the other over the battlements. Upon the messenger returning he slew him with the weapon he brought, evidently thinking “a secret is only safe with three when two are dead.” Later he was arrested on a charge of high treason and imprisoned in Birr. He was several times reprieved, and at last liberated, his legs having mortified. Upon his return he was only capable of murmuring “My money, my money,” but was quite unable to say where it was concealed.
In 1691 a Captain Darby, of the Leap, is alleged to have committed many deeds of daring against rapparees. It would appear that the estate was mortgaged for a nominal sum to one John Holland for fear of confiscation, for Charles II. re-granted the land to this Holland as mortgagee.
Admiral Darby, who commanded the _Bellerophon_ at the battle of the Nile, 1798, was one of the Darbys of Leap.
The present owner is Jonathan Charles Darby, Esq., D.L., who resides in the castle.
Donovan, “Annals of the Four Masters.” Cooke, “History of Birr.” Cooke, “Picture of Parsonstown.” G. Story, “Impartial History of Ireland.” R. Bagwell, “Ireland Under the Tudors.” J. Brewer, “Beauties of Ireland.” Parliamentary Gazetteer. Lord Walter Fitzgerald, “Kilkea Castle” (_Kildare Archæological Society’s Journal_).