Just outside Summerhill, Co. Meath stands the ruins of Dangan Castle. Beside Dangan church a long laneway leads up towards the ruin, in a field to the right as you advance towards the castle a three arch bridge – now unused – crosses a small brook. Approaching the two story Italian style mansion house – built in the early 1700s – its elegance is still not tainted by the trees and plants growing within its crumbling structure. From what I have gleamed the house has been uninhabited since the 1840s. Its most famous occupant being the son of the Earl Of Mornington, Arthur Wellesley aka The Duke of Wellington, who famously defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. The Duke was born in the castle and spent most of his youth there. The elevated south facing views from the castle are breathtaking, as is the remains of a bell house and sheds to the left of the main structure. The following is an excerpt from ‘The Scenery and Antiquities of Ireland’ written by Stirling Coyne & N.P. Willis circa 1841 “The general effect of this once noble edifice must have been exceedingly beautiful when viewed in its perfect state, with its battlements and turrets emerging from the crowding woods. But unfortunately the demesne and castle passed from their original possessors into the hands of strangers: they were sold by the Marquis of Wellesley to Colonel Burrows, and by him let to Mr. O’Connor. While in the possession of the latter gentleman it was destroyed by fire, and all that now remains of this once stately pile is a naked and desolate shell.” I will not describe how badly I mistook where this ruin is which led to hours of driving up cul-de-sacs, getting the car stuck in mud and weirding out the locals!
GPS: 53.50503, -6.75317
The Duke of Wellington was not born it Dangan Castle,but a few miles up the road in a small thatched cottage. The cottage still stands. There is a long story attached to this event.
Yeah? wow never heard that before, is it mentioned anywhere?
Hi Geraldine, we just visited this thatched cottage. Can you let me know how certain you are of Wellington’s birth here and what the ‘long story’ you mention is all about?
There is a legend in my family that states : “It is said that many generations ago there was a castle in our family. It was called the Danghan castle/manor in Ireland. As the story has it, Bernadette’s (my great grandmother’s) Great Great Grandfather was the rightful heir to this castle however, due to unforeseen circumstances out of his control the second wife took control of the castle. The lord of this castle’s wife passed away and he eventually remarried. He passed away as well later on and the new wife was very greedy. The law of succession in Ireland states that the heir has a certain amount of time to claim his inheritance otherwise it goes to the lord’s wife. The second wife never informed the heir of the lord’s death in the legal amount of time. Due to this deception, the castle was stolen from under our feet by the extremely calculating woman.” Apparently the title associated with this is a Baron? I’m not sure though, this is only passed down by word within my family.
Hi Katerina,
Thats a pretty unusual and interesting piece of family history, do you know what the surname is that would have been associated with the family at that time. Thanks for your comment.
Ed