Moyry Castle

Moyry Castle is located near Newry in what is now Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. It was constructed by English forces during the late Elizabethan period as part of efforts to consolidate control in Ireland.

The castle was built in June 1601 by Lord Mountjoy, Charles Blount, 1st Earl of Devon, who was sent by Queen Elizabeth I amidst the closing stages of the Nine Years’ War. This conflict saw Gaelic Irish lords resisting English rule, and the Moyry Pass, a narrow and strategic gateway linking northern and southern Ireland, was vital for military movements. With the castle’s establishment, the pass became more securely controlled by English forces, serving as a guarded route. Soon after completion, Captain Anthony Smith was appointed as constable, overseeing a small garrison of just twelve soldiers responsible for maintaining security in the area.

Following the ascension of King James I to the English throne, in 1606 several nearby towns including Dromintee and Carrickbroad were designated to provide support for the upkeep and defence of Moyry Castle. This administrative arrangement reflected the continued importance of the castle in securing the region during the early seventeenth century.

During the upheavals of the mid-seventeenth century, Moyry Castle came under the control of confederate Irish forces in 1641, marking a shift in its use amid the rebellion and wars of that period. Later, the castle again played a military role during the Williamite War in Ireland. Notably, King William III’s troops passed through the Moyry Pass in 1690 as part of the campaign leading up to the Battle of the Boyne, one of the key battles in Irish history.

Local tradition also surrounds Moyry Castle. A popular legend speaks of a black cat that appeared soon after the castle was built, believed to be the avenger of a slain wizard. This mysterious creature was said to have terrified the castle’s garrison, adding a supernatural dimension to the site’s early history.