Castle Saunderson
{{Short description|Castle in County Cavan, Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use Irish English|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Castle Saunderson
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| image = Castle saunderson.jpg
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| status = Private dwelling house
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| building_type = House
| architectural_style = Gothic revival
| classification = Ruined
| location = Belturbet, County Cavan
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| location_country = Ireland
| coordinates = {{coord|54.125|-7.352|type:landmark_region:IE|display=title}}
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| renovation_date = 1835 (substantially remodelled)
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| owner = Scouting Ireland (CSI)
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| material = limestone
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| architect = George Sudden
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| developer = Saunderson family
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Castle Saunderson ({{langx|ga|Caisleán Shandarsan}}) is a castle near Belturbet in County Cavan, Ireland. It was the former family seat of the Saunderson family, and is now in ruins. The Finn River flows along the north-eastern edge of the Castle Saunderson Demesne, where the river enters a narrow channel of Upper Lough Erne. The castle is about a half a mile west from Wattlebridge, a small hamlet in the south-south-east of County Fermanagh. Discoverer Series Sheet 27 (Edition F). Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland (O.S.N.I.), Land and Property Services, Belfast, 2019. Barbara Chapman, A History of Newtownbutler, p. 30. Nonsuch Publishing, Lower Leeson Street, Dublin, 2005.
The Castle Saunderson International Scouting Centre is a Scouting Ireland facility, opened in 2012 within the grounds of the castle. The centre provides indoor accommodation and campsites covering {{convert|34|acre|ha}}. It is open to Scouts year round, as well as to non-Scouts for most of the year. It currently acts as a World Scouting Centre for the Scouts, alongside Cairo International Scout Centre in Egypt and others.
History
=Family home=
The Saunderson family acquired the original castle during the Plantation of Ulster. The original castle was inhabited by the O'Reillys of Breffni and was formerly known as Breffni Castle from the 14th century. Robert Sanderson, who fought on the side of William of Orange, inherited the castle from his father in 1676. James II's troops burned the castle in 1689. Months later, 400 of King James's soldiers were ambushed here while on retreat from the battle at Newtownbutler. They were driven toward the Finn River and many drowned.Information sign outside the caste, 2018
The present castle dates to 1840 and was destroyed by fire in 1990. A notable member of the family born there was Colonel Edward James Saunderson, a founder of the Ulster Unionist Party, and the castle hosted Orange Order events celebrating The Twelfth.{{cite journal |last=Maume |first=Patrick |journal=Irish Economic and Social History |title=Colonel Edward Saunderson: Land and Loyalty in Victorian Ireland |volume=22 |year=1995 |pages=147–149 |jstor=24341477 |doi=10.1177/033248939502200121 |s2cid=164715405 }}{{cite news |via=Newspapers.com |work=Belfast News Letter |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79658173/colonel-saunderson-mp-and-his-consti/ |title=Colonel Saunderson, M.P., And His Constituents |date=24 Aug 1894 |page=7 |accessdate=2020-06-16}} Major Frederick John Sandys Lindesay of Loughry and Tullyhogue died there while a guest in 1877.{{cite web |year=1878 |url=http://www.willcalendars.nationalarchives.ie/reels/cwa/005014894/005014894_00217.pdf |title=Calendars of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1922, The National Archives of Ireland}} The Hon. Barry Maxwell, eldest son and heir apparent of The 10th Baron Farnham, died in a cycling accident on the estate in 1879.{{cite journal |last=Mórdha |first=P. B. Ó. |journal=Bits and Pieces. |publisher=Clogher Record |volume=14 |issue=2 |year=1992 |page=132 |title=Notes and Comments|jstor=27699347 }}
The last Saunderson who owned the castle was Edward's grandson, Captain Alexander "Sandy" Saunderson.{{Cite web | url=https://www.geni.com/people/Alexander-Sandy-Saunderson/6000000036950591592 | title=Alexander}} He was a prisoner of war during the Second World War and was later present at the War Tribunal at Nuremberg as the legal advisor to Lord Justice Lawrence.{{cite web| year=1988 |url =http://www.mecfilms.com/updates/upd03-06.htm|title=Interview with Sandy Saunderson. Film available for download.}} He sold the property to a businessman in 1977. He had planned to use it as a residence{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}, but this never transpired. It later served as a hotel,{{cn|date=October 2019}} but was damaged by fire, the third fire to occur at the castle.
The Castle Saunderson Demesne, currently only {{convert|103|acre|ha}},{{Citation needed|date=April 2007}} has entrances in County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland and County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland. The demesne includes a church with crypt and family graveyard.
=International Scout Centre=
In 1997 the castle and its grounds were acquired by Scouting Ireland (CSI). The subsequent formation of Scouting Ireland, and financial difficulties, delayed its development, and put the campsite project in doubt.{{cite web |year=2006 |url = http://www.scouts.ie/news/252/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030184022/http://www.scouts.ie/news/252/ |archive-date=30 October 2007 |title = Conclusion of Castle Saunderson Project |publisher = Scouting Ireland |access-date=3 March 2015}} With support from the American Ireland Fund and Cavan County Council, substantial progress occurred, with the announcement in November 2008 of EU funding for the project, amounting to over €3 million.{{cite web | year=2005 |url = http://www.irlfunds.org/aif/dallas/events_golf3.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060216014603/http://www.irlfunds.org/aif/dallas/events_golf3.asp |archive-date=16 February 2006 |title = Castle Saunderson |work=American Ireland Funds Golf Classic 2005 |publisher=American Ireland Fund |access-date=3 March 2015 }}{{cite web |year=2004 |url=http://www.irlfunds.org/aif/dallas/events_golf2.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050411074602/http://www.irlfunds.org/aif/dallas/events_golf2.asp |archive-date=11 April 2005 |title = Castle Saunderson |work=American Ireland Funds Golf Classic 2004| publisher = American Ireland Fund | access-date = 3 March 2015 }}{{cite web|title=Campsite Locator |url=http://www.scouts.ie/more/national_campsites_network/campsite_locations.html|work=Scouting Ireland|access-date=20 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019233523/http://www.scouts.ie/more/national_campsites_network/campsite_locations.html#|archive-date=2014-10-19|url-status=dead}}
His Excellency Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland, opened the €3.7 million European-funded Castle Saunderson International Scouting Centre in County Cavan on 18 August 2012. The President was joined by dignitaries from both sides of the Border, including Northern Ireland Executive Ministers Jonathan Bell, Nelson McCausland and Jennifer McCann, and Minister of State in the Republic, Fergus O’Dowd.{{cite news |title=Scouts' honour: President cuts ribbon at €3.7m scouts' centre |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0820/1224322499787.html|access-date=20 October 2013|newspaper=The Irish Times |date=20 August 2012}}
In February 2015, Minister Heather Humphreys announced the approval of the restoration by Waterways Ireland of a canal, part of the Ulster Canal, connecting the site to the Erne basin.{{cite press release |date=24 February 2015 |title=Minister Humphreys secures Government approval to restore Ulster Canal from Upper Lough Erne to Castle Saunderson |url=http://www.ahg.gov.ie/en/PressReleases/2015/February2015Pressreleases/htmltext,18490,en.html |agency=Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht |access-date=24 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224193834/http://www.ahg.gov.ie/en/PressReleases/2015/February2015Pressreleases/htmltext%2C18490%2Cen.html |archive-date=24 February 2015}}
The site delivers programmes which complement the Messenger of Peace Award.{{cite web |title=CASTLE SAUNDERSON PEACE AWARD |archive-date=2016-03-24 |publisher=Castle Saunderson International Scout Centre |url-status=dead |url=http://www.castlesaunderson.com/activities/activities-peace-programme/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324161638/http://www.castlesaunderson.com/activities/activities-peace-programme/# |access-date=2016-05-16}}
The centre has been used by the Health Service Executive as a mass testing centre during the COVID-19 outbreak in Ireland.{{Cite web|url=https://www.anglocelt.ie/2022/01/12/council-to-repair-test-centre-entrance/|title=Council to repair test centre entrance|website=AngloCelt.ie |date=12 January 2022 |accessdate=19 January 2022}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.CastleSaunderson.com Castle Saunderson International Scout Centre official website]
{{Historic Irish houses}}
{{Scoutorg SI}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Houses in the Republic of Ireland
Category:Buildings and structures in County Cavan
Category:Country houses in Ireland