The 1641 Rebellion
History
In the year 1641, the Catholic Irish rose up in rebellion to regain the lands they had lost during the plantations and were joined and supported by Sir Thomas Fleming.
The roots of the 1641 rebellion derived from the colonisation that followed the Tudor conquest of Ireland, and the alienation of the Catholic gentry from the newly-Protestant English state in the decades following. A parliamentarian army under the leadership of General Jones marched from Carrickmacross, County Monaghan into Cabragh in County Cavan. The General with some horses rode out to Muff Castle which was described as a fortress of good strength and fortified with four square flankers. At this time, the castle was being defended by a garrison commanded by a son of Sir Thomas Fleming. However, when summoned to surrender it yielded and marched out with bag and baggage.
In the year 1647, Muff Castle was captured and occupied by the Cromwellians and was reoccupied again by the rebels in October 1651. During this time, Colonel Venables one of Cromwell’s officers, was then operating from a base in County Louth. However, due to him becoming ill and speechless, in his absence Colonel Barrow took over the command of the forces and marched into County Cavan and on his way he retook the Castle in Muff. We read ‘The half was surrendered upon mercy, and half of them had quarter for life and the other half were executed’.
Tradition has handed down colourful details of the castle and its doom and it was reported to be one of the strongest castles in Ireland of it’s time with twenty horsemen on guard duty there night and day.
The English army destroyed Moybolgue Church on their way to take Muff Castle which was considered a strong fortress with no shots being able to penetrate or take a chip out of it. However, the story told is that it’s weakness lay in a secret keystone which was known by an old cobbler who told the English his secret, for which he was promised anything he would name. When the castle was taken, the commander asked the cobbler, “What have we to give you?. My house and my garden rent free forever”, replied the cobbler. His request was granted, but the officer added: “Poor I found you , and poor I must leave you”.