A historic local landmark has been sold privately sparking anger amongst local politicians who had urged Donegal County Council to buy the property.
O’Doherty’s Keep at Swan Park in Buncrana is steeped in history.
Local county councillor Jack Murray had urged the council to buy the property, which included the ruins of a castle.
A reserve price of €175,000 was put on the property by Sean Furey Auctioneers who handled the sale.
The online auction was due to take place today but the property was withdrawn and sold to a private bidder.
Councillor Murray said he is very disappointed to learn of the deal saying it sent out a very bad message as to the value state agencies now “place on our history.”
He said “Though I wish the new owner well, I really believe that this is a badly missed opportunity and that the right thing to do was to bring such a building – steeped in history – into public ownership so as to allow the people of this community a say on its future.
“It was an opportunity that may not arise for another generation, if at all.
“It sends out a very bad message as to the value that state agencies place on our history.
“Along with others, I will continue to fight, in the public interest, for our historic sites to be protected and promoted. It’s about time though, that state agencies joined the fight to reclaim our priceless heritage.”
Sitting on the banks of the River Crana, the castle remains was once occupied by the O’ Doherty Clan. It is the founding site of Buncrana town and remains an ancestral home to their descendants.
According to the sale brief for the property listing “It is hoped the new owner will be sensitive to the preservation of the location in return for being permanently written into the history of Buncrana locally and the O’ Doherty Clan internationally.”
Spekaing before the deal was done to sell the property to a private owner, councillor Jack Murray says the sale would be an opportunity for Donegal County Council to take the building into public ownership.
The preservation of the site would complete the tourist offering of Buncrana, he said.
“It’s a community amenity that people are very proud of,” Cllr Murray told a recent meeting of Donegal County Council.
O’Doherty’s Keep. Photo: daft.ie (Sean Furey Auctioneers)
O’Doherty’s Keep. Photo: daft.ie (Sean Furey Auctioneers)
The O’Doherty’s Keep has a rich and tumultuous history.
Sean Furey Auctioneers detailed the many events that occurred here:
The word Keep was used to describe a refuge or place of last resort for defensive purposes. The O’ Doherty Clan has a distinguished & unique history going back to earliest records of 1208. They were lords of Inishowen from the 1300s up to 1608 when Cahir O’ Doherty, once knighted for his bravery, was executed for treason.
The keep was burned in 1608 by Crown forces in reprisal for the rebellion of Sir Cahir O’ Doherty who sacked and raized the city of Derry.
After Sir Cahir’s death the Keep was granted to Sir Arthur Chichester who leased it to Englishman Henry Vaughan. Further restoration work was carried out by the Vaughan family who occupied the keep until 1708.
In October 1798 Wolfe Tone, the founder of Irish Republicanism, was arrested and held in the vicinity of O’Doherty’s Keep before being tried and convicted of treason in Dublin.
O’Doherty’s Keep. Photo: daft.ie (Sean Furey Auctioneers)
It was acquired in 1969 by local Buncrana resident Ronald H.C.O’ Doherty. The Keep is unique and has authentic and tangible links to an historic story spanning hundreds of years and many countries. It is a monument of identity for many who were forced to leave Ulster over several hundred years. It is a symbol of identity for the diaspora who left Ulster, for those who returned home and for those who live and work in Buncrana and Inishowen.
International descendants of the O’ Doherty Clan visit their ancestral home to reconnect with their roots and Irish family.
The sale this often called a ‘priceless artefact’ is sure to generate great interest and talk both locally and internationally.
