Moyry Castle

Moyry Castle is a small 17th-century fortification located in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, specifically within the townland of Carrickbroad. Constructed in June 1601 by Charles Blount, the 8th Baron Mountjoy, during the final stages of the Nine Years' War, the structure was strategically designed to secure the vital Moyry Pass and the Gap of the North. Built directly upon solid rock, the castle features a rectangular tower rising three storeys high, measuring approximately eight meters on each side. Its architectural design includes musketry loopholes on three walls for defense, while the north-facing wall originally housed fireplaces that protruded externally. The building sits within the corner of a small bawn, serving as a compact but effective military keep.

Historically, the castle played a pivotal role in stabilizing travel between north and south Ireland. After its completion, Captain Anthony Smith was appointed constable with a small garrison to guard the pass. The site later saw action during the Confederate Wars and the Williamite War, notably when King William's army marched through the pass in 1690 en route to the Battle of the Boyne. Despite suffering damage from ambushes in the surrounding area, the castle helped transform the previously dangerous pass into a relatively safe passage. King James I subsequently designated several local townlands to fund the maintenance and security of the fort and its ward.

Today, Moyry Castle is recognized as a State Care Historic Monument under the stewardship of the Environment and Heritage Service. Situated roughly 7.5 miles south of Newry and five miles north of Dundalk, the ruins remain an important landmark of military history in the region. Although the structure is no longer inhabited, its enduring presence on the rocky outcrop offers insight into the strategic engineering employed during the Tudor conquest of Ireland. The site stands as a testament to Lord Mountjoy's belief that small stone keeps could effectively control hostile territories without requiring excessive financial investment.