The Dun Earl was stabbed to death the next year in revenge for the murder.
The following legend is told regarding Walter de Burgo’s death. The Earl had a beautiful daughter who one day, in
[Illustration: GREENCASTLE, COUNTY DONEGAL.]
crossing the sands on the shore under Benevenagh, became engulfed in quicksands, and was nearly losing her life when Sir Walter Burk’s son, who was serving in the army of O’Neill and O’Donnell, seeing her danger from the heights above rushed down and saved her from the peril.
The same year this young man was taken prisoner by the girl’s father in his war with the O’Donnells and starved to death at Greencastle. The Earl one day, during his unfortunate victim’s captivity, discovered his daughter carrying food to the prisoner, and seizing her by the hair, dragged her to the battlements and hurled her over on to the rocks below.
The fortress was for many years in possession of the O’Dohertys.
In 1555 Calvagh O’Donnell went to Scotland to raise forces with the help of Mac Calin (Gillaspick Don), and returning with them and a cannon called _gonna cam_, or “crooked gun,” he set to work and demolished the New Castle.
It was, however, reported as wardable in 1586. The last of the O’Dohertys to hold the fortress was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, but shortly afterwards he went into rebellion, and his estate was forfeited.
In 1610 it was granted with other property to Sir Arthur Chichester with an allowance to maintain the garrison. Two years later he asked to be allowed for horsemen at Greencastle instead of the ten warders, and in 1615 Lord Chichester was granted Greencastle for three lives by letters patent.
In 1752 it was on the Earl of Donegal’s estate.
O’Donovan, “Annals of the Four Masters.” MS. Ordnance Survey. Stokes, “Pococke’s Tour in Ireland in 1752.” State Papers. Carew MSS. Parliamentary Gazetteer. Blackley, “A Tour through Innishowen.”
Upon the northern shore of Carlingford Lough, in the Barony of Mourne, four and a half miles south-west of Kilteel, County Down, are situated the ruins of this castle. It is a very fine specimen of Norman architecture, and was erected soon after the landing of the first English settlers so as to secure communication between the Pale and the outlying district of Lecale, as well as to command the entrance to Carlingford Lough.