?Tales of Irish Castles? documents castles at the forefront of the bloodiest century in Irish histor

TV3 GROUP RELEASE

IMMEDIATE: Thursday 10th July, 2014

 

 

‘Tales of Irish Castles’ documents castles at the forefront of the bloodiest century in Irish history.

 

This episode explores the strategic military castles in Limerick, Birr, Kilkenny and Athlone.

 

In King John’s Castle, excavations uncovered the tunnels that were used in an old siege tactic called ‘undermining’ and also unearthed a mass grave where many women and children had died of starvation during the siege.

 

Presenter Simon Delaney visits the ruins of Aughrim Castle, the scene of the largest and bloodiest battle on Irish soil.

 

Simon Delaney is available for interview on request

 

‘Tales of Irish Castles’ episode 4 airs this Sunday 13thJuly at 6.15pm on TV3.

 

Tales of Irish Castles is an entertaining and engaging documentary series exploring the great stories and characters associated with the most beautiful, notorious and historical castles built across Ireland.

 

In the fourth episode of this six part series, presenter Simon Delaney documents the castles that were at the forefront of the bloodiest century in Irish history. With the confederate and Cromwellian wars of the 1640’s and 1650’s followed by the Williamite wars in the 1680’s and 1690’s, Irish castles played key roles throughout the 17th century and this episode documents some of the most affected and important strongholds during this period.

 

This episode explores the strategic military castles in Limerick, Birr, Kilkenny and Athlone. In King John’s Castle, Limerick, excavations in 1990 uncovered the tunnels that were used in an old siege tactic called ‘undermining’. The archaeologist’s found rotten timber props underneath the castle walls where the opposition would have tunneled under the castle walls with grenades to attack the castle. Unfortunately the excavation also unearthed a mass grave where many women and children had died of starvation during the siege.

 

Archaeologist Ken Wiggins details the sad discovery: “The analysis from the osteoarchaeologist told us that the children were all aged below five, except one possibly aged 6, so it’s terrible to think of children of that age being caught up in this horrible struggle. They didn’t die because of gun fire or any kind of violence. These people would have starved to death during the course of the siege.” “To end up in a pit with loads of other people, I mean, this is tragic”

 

Simon Delaney visits the ruins of Aughrim Castle, the scene of the largest and bloodiest battle on Irish soil. More soldiers fought and died here than in the infamous Battle of Ghettysburg, which is so well renowned in America.

 

Other Irish Castles featured throughout the series include: Charleville Castle in Offaly, Tullynally Castle in Westmeath, Dublin Castle, Castle Leslie in Monaghan, and Blarney Castle in Cork.

 

Tales Of Irish Castles is produced by Sideline Productions for TV3, funded by the BAI and hosted by award winning actor Simon Delaney (BBC’s The Fall and Roy; CBS’s The Good Wife’ and SKY’s Emmy Award winner Moone Boy).

 

‘Tales of Irish Castles’ episode 4 airs this Sunday 13th July at 6.15pm on TV3.

 

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NOTES TO EDITOR:

 

Simon Delaney Biog

Simon Delaney has been working as an actor and director for more than 16 years in Ireland and the UK, and more recently in the US.

Simon has recently filmed Mrs Browns Boys, The Movie.  Prior to this he shot his third series of Moone Boy, directed and co-written by Chris O'Dowd and the Alan Partridge Movie, with Steve Coogan.

Other recent US screen credits include The Delivery Man, a feature film for DreamWorks, in which he plays Vince Vaughn's brother, The Good Wife opposite Juliana Margulies and Touch which stars Kiefer Sutherland.  Another recent feature film is This Must be the Place with Sean Penn.  Simon played the title role in John Carney's feature film, Zonad which was nominated for 6 Irish Film & Television awards including Best Film, and was a huge hit at the Tribeca Film Festival, receiving a 5 star review from Variety magazine.  Other European screen work includes Moone Boy (SKY TV), Fathers & Son (RTÉ/ITV) and Roy for CBBC, which received two BAFTA nominations.  Simon has shot two TV series for BBC, Pulling Moves in which played the lead role, and The Fall with Gillian Anderson.  Simon has received 4 Irish Film and Television Academy Best Actor nominations, and for the past three years has hosted the ceremony, live on RTE television.

 

Theatre credits include Stones in His Pockets (Charlie Conlon) at The New Ambassadors & Duchess Theatres in London, OneFlew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (R.P McMurphy), Glengarry Glenross (Richard Roma), The Odd Couple (Oscar Madison), The Boys in the Band (Michael) and Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Le Vicomte de Valmonte).  Simon performed the Irish premier of Defending the Caveman at The Tivoli Theatre in 2007.

 

Musical theatre credits include Jerry Springer the Musical (Jerry),The Blues Brothers (Jake), The Full Monty (Dave), 42nd Street (Julian Marsh), The Wiremen (Tommo), Guys and Dolls (Nathan Detroit) and The Hired Man (Isaac Tallentire).

           

Directing credits include Beauty & the Beast, Stones in his Pockets (German Premier & National Tour), Cinderella,The Full Monty (Irish Premier), West Side Story, Sweet Charity, Honk, Oliver, Cabaret and The Hot Mikado.

 

Tales of Irish Castles – EPISODE 4 – A CENTURY OF TURMOIL

Williamite wars in the 1680’s and 1690’s, Irish castles played key roles throughout the 17th century and this episode documents some of the most affected and important strongholds during this period e.g. the strategic military castles in Limerick, Birr, Kilkenny, Athlone and finally the ruins of Aughrim Castle – scene of the bloodiest battle on Irish soil.