Tully Castle

Following the Flight of the Earls in 1607, the crown seized Irish land in Ulster and granted it out in large parcels to English and Scottish ‘planters’ on condition that they build settlements and provide strongholds loyal to the king. Sir John Hume of Polwarth in Berwickshire was granted 2000 acres at Tully, known as ‘Carrynroe’, in 1610, and had built a castle on Tully Point by 1613. The life of the castle was brief. Sir John Hume died in 1639 and was succeeded by his son, Sir George. In 1641, Rory Maguire set out to recapture his family’s lands. He arrived with a large following on Christmas Eve, and found the castle full of women and children, but most of the men were away. Lady Mary Hume surrendered, believing that she had assured a safe conduct for all in her care, but on Christmas Day the Maguires killed 60 women and children and 15 men, sparing only the Humes. The castle was burnt and the Humes never went back. Castle Hume, a classical house, was built by Sir Gustavus Hume in 1728-9, on a different site, and this in turn was replaced by Ely Lodge.