History

We are fascinated by our castle’s history and are always researching and finding out more.

It is probable from local topography that the castle actually existed in an earlier incarnation in Norman times as a Motte and Bailey fortress in the 12th Century as there is a ring fort across the stream beside the castle that would make sense theoretically.

Brian O’Hart then built the original Ardtarmon Castle. The O’Harts were descendants of the 113th Monarch of Ireland known as “Art the Melancholy” (O’Hart meaning “of Art” in Irish), and of the High Kings of Tara. They were “Princes of Ireland and Chiefs in Sligo”, becoming Cavalrymen for the O’Connor Chieftains.

The name Ardtarmon is the anglicised version of two words: Ard, which either comes from the name O’Hart, or from the Irish word High, referring to the Clan’s status as High Kings; and Tearmuin, which means Refuge or Sanctuary.

The castle’s residents very likely witnessed the ships of the 1588 Spanish Armada enter Sligo Bay. There is a record of a castle in Sligo Bay that gave the Spanish sailors provisions and refuge before they continued on their doomed journey, and we like to think that were were that hospitable castle.

During the Elizabethan wars, the Gaelic Chietains were defeated and either lost their lands or had to swear allegiance to the Queen. Ardtarmon Castle was among the lands redistributed by the English Crown, and was given to the English Knight Paul Gore in probably 1601.

The Castle was constructed into its fortified Manor House Style by Paul’s son Francis Gore in around 1603, with its era-typical 45 degree chimney stacks and arrow slits, similar to Parke’s Castle at Lough Gill which was linked to Ardtarmon by his marriage to Anne Parke.

In 1711, Francis’ grandson Nathaniel Gore married Letitia Booth, giving rise to the Gore-Booth Dynasty.

Letitita became a local ghost story known as the “Banshee-Ban”, who compels her charioteer to drive her around local cliffs, dressed in white robes, and with horses shod with gold.

Ardtarmon Castle suffered a fire during a Christmas Party. Its roof gone, our Castle was left to crumble, until cattle grazed in the once mighty banquet hall.

The Gore family moved a few miles along the shore to build what would become Lissadell House, eventually made famous by Yeats’ poetry. Their most famous descendant was Constance Marcievicz (born Gore-Booth): the Rebel Countess who fought in the 1916 Rising leading to Ireland’s Independence.

During a time in the 19th century freak sand dunes covered the Maugherow area, and the castle ruins were reported to have been buried in sand to the very top.

In the 1920s, after the Irish Civil War that led to Ireland’s independence, the lands of the landed Gentry were again redistributed, this time back to the Irish people, and Ardtarmon Castle passed back to a local Irish family.

Fast forward to 1979, when Holger and Erika Schiller from Bavaria fell in love with what remains of the castle they found, Holger saying he immediately saw it finished in his mind. They dedicated their lives to carefully restoring it to its former glory with the help of local men and women who became good friends. From designing the architectural plans to felling the german oaks for the roofbeams, cutting the flagstone floors to forging wrought iron chandeliers; no skill was too much for Holger’s curious mind and hands-on work ethic to acquire; with Erika always by his side and their children Bianca, Jessica, Bjorn and Mirjam growing up and helping out in the building site that became their beloved home.

Holger and his son-in-law Fionn Murray lost their lives in an aviation accident in 1998.

We miss them both terribly every day.

Members of the Schiller family still live in our beloved castle today and offer fairytale holidays in the form of self-catering apartment accommodation in the south-facing wing with beach access and views over beautiful Sligo Bay.

Come stay and experience centuries of incredible history featuring Chieftains, Knights and Rebel Queens; told to you by careful castle keepers in love with their amazing home.