 |
||
|
There is a story, that surrounds Dunseverick Castle which dates from around the late tenth century and occurred during the time of the first Crusades to the Holy Land. At that time Dunseverick Castle was a majestic stronghold along the coast, home to the chieftain and a garrison of soldiers who keep the peace in the area, on the land side there were stables, exercise yards, a harbour and hamlet of houses which had developed around the castle.
One-day news reached the castle about the call for volunteers and Christians to join the first Crusade to the Holy Land with Count Baldwin of Flanders and Godfrey de Bouillon’s. The Chieftain had sons and daughters. Young Turlough was taken with the idea of going away to fight under the banner of the cross and asked his father for permission, being the next heir to the castle, his father was somewhat reluctant to let him go but eventually conceded and Turlough headed of with many other Ulstermen.
Known as Turlough of Dunsobriche his became noted for his warring skills, on the road to Jerusalem the Crusaders lay siege to the Syrian city of Antioch (1098AD) and it is said that Turlough was one of the first to mount the walls and break the siege. His valour must have been well known amongst the Crusaders for it found its way back to Ulster.
Turlough fought in the final battle which saw the fall of Jeruselem to the Crusaders and he was present when Godfrey de Bouillen was made King of Jerusalem and Protector of the Holy Sepluchre.
The story, for we have no factual proof of this, tells that while Turlough was away from Dunseverick it was attacked by an Viking warrior known as Hankon Jarl. At this time Brian Boroihme, the King of Ireland had defeated the Vikings at the Battle of Clontorf but afterwards the King, his son and grandson were all murdered in their camp. The defeat of the Vikings quelled their activities in Ireland but they resumed again as raids from the Scottish Islands.
Hankon Jarl was based on the Islands and is said to have stormed Dunseverick Castle and burnt it, he killed the Cheiftain and all the males in his close family and killed many in the surrounding area, he took Turlough’s sister back to the Islands. It is said that he wanted to marry her but she repeatedly refused, after a while she eventually said she would agree to marry him if he repented and became a Christian like her family had been.
|
Page 1 of 2