Draft:Ardea Castle

Ardea Castle was a historic castle located in Tuosist, County Kerry, Ireland. Today the castle is largely overgrown with vegetation. The remains include sections of the original walls and towers.

History

Ardea Castle was originally the seat of the O'Moriarty family. In the mid-16th century, it came under the control of Donal Cam O'Sullivan Beare, a prominent chieftain of the O'Sullivan Beare clan.

During the Nine Years' War (1594-1603), Ardea Castle played a crucial role. In 1601, following the Battle of Kinsale, a Spanish ship delivered money and ammunition to the castle. Despite these efforts, the English forces eventually overran the region. Donal Cam O'Sullivan Beare led a harrowing retreat to Leitrim with over a thousand followers, but only 35 survived the journey. Donal Cam ultimately fled to Spain, where he died in 1618.

Architecture

The castle's ruins include thick stone walls, arched windows, battlements, and remnants of towers. The structure was fortified with cliffs on the north and west sides and walls enclosing a courtyard on the east and south sides.