O’Doherty’s Keep

O’Doherty’s Keep was built on what was once the site of a Norman castle, thought to have been  demolished c.1300. In 1588, the keep housed Spanish survivors from the La Trinidad Valenceria, which sank at Kinnegoe Bay. Sean Óg O’Doherty, (along with Red Hugh) was imprisoned in Dublin Castle for rescuing these Spanish sailors and soldiers.

The O’Doherty Clan used the keep until 1608, when the Crown confiscated it following Sir Cahir’s rebellion. The keep was burned in reprisal, then granted to Sir Arthur Chichester, as remuneration for his service to the Crown. Chichester leased the keep to Henry Vaughan. The Vaughan family subsequently developed what would become the modern town of Buncrana. They lived in the keep until 1718, until a new manor house was built. The bawn (enclosure) masonry, that once surrounded the keep, was used to construct the Vaughans’ new town house.