Clan Rising
Tully Castle today

Ireland · Ruin

Tully Castle

Tully Castle is an early 17th-century plantation castle on the southern shore of Lower Lough Erne in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Built for Sir John Hume, it was attacked and burned in 1641 and today survives as a roofless stone ruin maintained as a State Care Historic Monument.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1620

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1620

What Tully Castle looked like in its prime.

A compact rectangular stone tower-house with a tall central gabled façade and large rectangular window openings, flanked by lower curtain walls and a taller projecting rectangular stair/chimney tower to the right. Constructed of rough grey rubble masonry with narrow slit windows and a crenellated wall section to the left. In its prime the building had a pitched roof and visible chimneys; it stands on a gently sloping plot beside Lower Lough Erne, approached by a cobbled path and trimmed hedges.

Its story

The story of Tully Castle.

Tully Castle, in Irish Caisleán na Tulaí, "castle on the hill", was built for Sir John Hume, a Scottish planter, on Blaney Bay on the southern shore of Lower Lough Erne in County Fermanagh. The surrounding Blaney area takes its name from Sir Edward Blaney, one of the English advance party sent to organise the Plantation in Fermanagh.

During the Irish Rebellion of 1641 the rebel soldier Rory Maguire set out to recapture his family's lands, arriving at Tully with a large following on Christmas Eve to find the castle full of women and children, most of the men being away. Lady Mary Hume surrendered, believing she had secured 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 returned. It survives today as a roofless stone ruin, and with its village site is maintained as a State Care Historic Monument in the townland of Tully.

Step inside

7 places to explore in 1620.

The record describes 7 distinct spots at Tully Castle, including the full exterior approach. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Front cobbled approach and gardenMain entrance at ground levelCentral gable and great-windowWest curtain wall and crenellationsEast projecting stair/chimney towerBattlement/parapet walk (roofline)Shoreline and approach from Lower Lough Erne

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Whose castle

Clans who held Tully Castle.

The families that held Tully Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Hume

    Built for Sir John Hume, a Scottish planter; the Humes never returned after the castle was burnt in the rebellion of 1641.

Questions about Tully Castle

What is the history of Tully Castle?

Tully Castle was built in the early 17th century for Sir John Hume, a Scottish planter. During the Irish Rebellion of 1641, Rory Maguire arrived with a large following on Christmas Eve. Lady Mary Hume surrendered, but on Christmas Day Maguire’s forces killed 60 women and children and 15 men. The castle was then burnt, and the Humes never returned.

Why was Tully Castle built, and what was it used for?

Tully Castle was built as a plantation castle for Sir John Hume, a Scottish planter. It formed part of the Plantation of Fermanagh, in the Blaney area on the southern shore of Lower Lough Erne. The supplied material does not describe a later change of purpose.

Where is Tully Castle?

Tully Castle is on the southern shore of Lower Lough Erne, on Blaney Bay near the village of Blaney in County Fermanagh. It stands in the townland of Tully, in Northern Ireland. The Blaney area takes its name from Sir Edward Blaney, who helped organise the Plantation in Fermanagh.

When was Tully Castle built?

Tully Castle was built in the early 17th century. No exact first-raised year is recorded, although 1620 is given as its prime year. The available material therefore places its construction in the 1600s rather than identifying a precise building date.

Was Tully Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Tully Castle was attacked during the Irish Rebellion of 1641 by Rory Maguire and his large following. They arrived on Christmas Eve while most of the men were away, and Lady Mary Hume surrendered after believing safe conduct had been secured. The castle fell and was burnt after the killings on Christmas Day.

Which family or clan held Tully Castle?

The Hume family held Tully Castle. It was built for Sir John Hume, a Scottish planter, and the Humes never returned after the castle was burnt during the rebellion of 1641.

What did Tully Castle look like in its prime?

Tully Castle was a compact rectangular stone tower-house with a tall central gabled façade and large rectangular window openings. Lower curtain walls flank it, while a taller projecting stair and chimney tower rises to the right. Rough grey rubble masonry, narrow slit windows, crenellations, a pitched roof and chimneys completed its prime appearance beside Lower Lough Erne.

Is Tully Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Tully Castle survives as a roofless stone ruin. Its pitched roof and visible chimneys are no longer present, but the rectangular tower-house, curtain walls, gabled façade and projecting stair and chimney tower remain. The castle and village site are maintained as a State Care Historic Monument.

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