HISTORY & TRAVEL
Island . In panic Hooper desperately attempted to assign soldiers to the East corcasse and maintain the escape route which he fully intended to use . Hooper sent word to Penn of his intentions to retreat . Penn , who was completely appalled , reluctantly agreed to arrange a retreat but it was too late . The East corcasse fell to the Confederate forces .
Historical accounts offer some confusion to the following event but seemingly Penn had located the women and children to Quay Island for safety the day the east corcasse fell . With the loss of the east corcasse he then made the decision to shift the women and children from Quay Island back into the castle perhaps as some sort of tactical maneuver . He was expecting a full raid of Bunratty Castle the following day . Presumably he would have shipped the women and children off to Cork or somewhere safer but this did not transpire . .
On July 12th an Irish Captain accompanied by 2 English officers boarded one of Penn ’ s ships named “ Peter ” with articles of surrender . To add pressure to the situation Confederate cannons opened fire on Penn ’ s fleet blowing holes in one of the ships . On July 13th with articles of surrender signed by Hooper and other officers on behalf of the English and by Muskerry on behalf of the Confederates boarded the “ Fellowship ”. Penn promptly evacuated Bunratty Castle with the women and children and set sail for Skattery Island . There the wounded were separated from the healthy people and loaded back onto ships to set sail for Cork . The siege was over .
Outside the castle are a collection of thatched cottages and buildings which offer an impression of the typical lifestyle of the area over the last several hundred years . The buildings stand in true contrast to the remarkable beauty and wealth that can be seen inside the castle itself . Bunratty visitor center recreates a medieval battle scene most days of the year , which is definitely worth seeing . Occupation of the surrounding area dates back to the 12th century and has loads of rich history to explore and discover . If occasion presents itself visit Bunratty , County Clare to see the scene of this siege and discover what other treats the area has to offer .
One last note regarding Penn and his family - It is generally believed that Vice-Admiral Penn ’ s wife and son were present during the siege of Bunratty Castle . Penn ’ s son , William Penn , in later years would be granted by King Charles II a considerable land holding in the new world in exchange for settling debt owed to his father and a fifth of all the gold mined therein . As it turned out the land grant became what is now the modern day states of Delaware and Pennsylvania in the United States .
Today Bunratty Castle still stands as a reminder of its past . Castles were built as a statement of endurance of and great strength . Their fortitude lies in their ability to withstand tribulation through the ages . This is only one event that took place in a very special castle which was designed and built to be defendable . Two small spiral staircases are the only way in or out of the castle . This undoubtedly aided Penn with holding out as long as he was able to . The castle ’ s history dates back to medieval times . Bunratty is filled with beautiful tapestries , rich woodwork and fabulous paintings . Its walls are lined with many types of armory that offer a true impression of what it must have been like during Penn ’ s tenure .
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1961 Magazine Fall 2016