None but Englishmen were permitted to hold the appointment in 1495.
Notwithstanding this, when M’Donell made his submission in 1542 he requested to be granted Greencastle, and the lands lying waste around it, for which favour he promised military service.
The Government did not evidently see their way to accede to his request, and seven years later it is reported that the fortress was in a “wretched condition.”
In 1552 it was granted to Sir Nicholas Bagnall, in whose family’s possession it remained for many years.
Sir Arthur Chichester was granted means to provide ten warders for Greencastle in 1612, but this does not seem to have interfered with the Bagnall possession, as in 1620 Arthur Bagnall held the manors and lordships of Greencastle and Mourne.
Three years later it is recommended that the ward be moved from Culmore to Greencastle, and the stronghold was garrisoned during the rebellion of 1641.
J. O’Laverty, “Diocese of Down and Connor.” W. Harris, “County of Down.” R. Praeger, “Official Guide to County Down.” State Papers. Marquis of Kildare, “Earls of Kildare.” Carew MSS. Parliamentary Gazetteer.
About seven miles east-north-east of Dublin, in the Barony of Coolock, is situated the village of Howth, on the promontory of the same name.
A short way from the town, nestling under the lee of the hill is the castle, the seat of the Earls of Howth.
It is a long battlemented building, with square towers at each end.
A large flight of steps gives admission to the hall, which extends along the whole length of the building. Here is preserved the two-handed sword of Sir Amoricus Tristram (the founder of the St. Laurence family in Ireland) with which he is said to have fought his first Irish battle. Also three inscribed bells, which were removed from the Abbey, are preserved in the castle.
The fortress seems to have undergone much alteration since its first erection, and the great gateway tower, which now flanks the main building on one side, appears to be of sixteenth-century architecture and is no doubt part of the original building.
The stronghold was erected in 1564 by Christopher, the twentieth baron, but whether it was built on the site of an older castle or whether Corr Castle, also situated on the peninsular, was the ancient fortress of the St. Laurence family, does not seem to be known.