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Elagh Castle, was the historic seat of the Ó Dochartaigh power during our rule of Inishowen. It was both the principal castle and primary residence of our chieftains and was during its heyday probably the most impressive fortification in Inishowen. While today there is little remaining but one ruined outer tower which is often referred to as Doherty Tower, recent archaeological excavations have renewed the sites’ historic association with Aileach, the early medieval royal site of the Cenél nEógain which pre-dates the Ó Dochartaigh occupation of Inishowen.

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Elagh Castle: The O'Dochartaigh Seat of Power

Archaeologists believe that Elagh Castle has undergone a number of phases throughout its existence. While many Ó Dochartaigh fortresses were constructed during the 15th and 16th centuries, archaeologist agree that the masonry from remains of Elagh’s present phase appear to be of 14th century construction. The Annals indicate that when Domnall Ó Dochartaigh died in 1339, “there was little wanting from his having the lordship of Inis-Eogain”. Complete lordship of Inishowen was in Ó Dochartaigh hands no later than the death of Conchobur Ó Dochartaigh in 1413. As the ruins we see today are believed to have been built during the 1300s, we’re not sure if the Ó Dochartaighs were the original builders of the structure we see today or if it was built under Ui Neill control. Either way the Ó Dochartaighs likely continued to change the footprint and face of the structure as time continued. Queens University Belfast’ archaeologist Cormac McSparron mentioned that Elagh has an inner masonry skin which was later covered over by an outer layer which changed the appearance of the original structure. 

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The bardic poem of Tadhg Dall Ó Huiginn, titled “Inishowen”, composed between 1550–1591, praises the our Chief, Sir John, as “O'Doherty of the castle of Oileach” (Aileach/Elagh). A letter dated 1588 from Richard & Henry Hovenden to the Lord Deputy of Ireland mentioning a “village of Sir John Ó Dogherty, called Illagh”, as well as one of Docwra’s maps of Derry circa 1600 mentioning both a castle and a town at Elagh, indicates the site was well developed by the late 16th century.

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When the English landed in Inishowen and began their military campaign in 1600, Sir John Ó Dogherty and the villagers at Elagh abandoned the site. Sir Henry Docwra wrote that “We marched to the castle of Ellaughe, Ó Dogherty's chief house, and there finding it broken in some part, all the town burnt, and by them quitted”. He indicated in his Narration that “Sixe days wee spent in labour about it, in which meane space, making upp into the Countrie with some troupes (onely with intent to discover) we came to Ellagh a castle of the Ó Dogherty's, which had yet newlie abandoned and begunne to pull down, Butt seeing it yett Tennable and of good vse to be held, I put Captaine Ellis ffloudd into it and his companie of 150 men”. It was by the early part of the next year that Sir John Ó Dogherty had died, having forfeit Elagh and his other lands when he rebelled against the English.

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In 1603, Sir Cahir Ó Dogherty was regranted much of the Ó Dochartaigh ancestry lands including Elagh and he resumed Ó Dogherty occupation of Elagh Castle. It was there that he summoned Captain Hart to dinner and lavish entertainment before he captured Hart’s Fort Culmore the first night of the Ó Dogherty Rebellion in April 1608. In July 1608, after the rebellion, Sir Thomas Ridgeway wrote that, “they went to the traitor's castle and town of Elough which, though strong by situation and by extraordinary thickness of wall and bawn about it, they found (contrary to their expectations) evacuated”. Sir Cahir’s grant of lands, including the Castle Elagh, was revoked upon his rebellion and subsequent to his death were regranted, along with the rest of Inishowen, to Lord Deputy Arthur Chichester. Chichester used Elagh as a garrison, but then leased it out by 1621. The castle had falled into disrepair before 1665.

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