I belong to their Yahoo group, but it's pretty quiet.

I must say it gives me pause that the castle was built to commemorate the defeat of the 1798 rebellion.

This was started by the United Irishmen, lead by Napper Tandy and Wolfe Tone, who were actually protestants, but came from Dublin, although the majority of the rank and file were catholics. You have to understand that catholics were barred from owning land or being a member of a learned profession, and then it makes sense.

They relied upon France to supply troops to help them, but AFAIK all the French did was hand out green cockades for the rebels to wear in their hats and commission the leaders as officers in the French army, so it's no wonder it failed. Sort of emblematic of French military history.

At least the castle flies the Irish tricolour in the picture, but then it is in the Republic, so those who built it ultimately lost their cause in the long run.

I am English, but have Irish blood, and from all the way South in County Cork, where the Callaghan name comes from. To be clear, I don't agree with the Northern Loyalists, but I think if the Republic were to take over the North they would get more than they bargained for, i.e. lots of new people who regard themselves as different, who don't necessarily think of themselves as Irish atall. Not to mention that a lost cat would be headline news in the Republic, whereas the North has considerable crime.

I apologise for the politics, but if you follow the link there is a serious political slant on the castle website.