LAST - Medieval Tower in Dublin - Record Tower, Dublin Castle, Dublin, Ireland
N 53° 20.589 W 006° 15.999
29U E 681958 N 5913927
The south east Record Tower, with 4.6 metre thick walls, is the last intact medieval tower, not only of Dublin Castle but also in Dublin itself. It has functioned as a high security prison and now serves as the Garda Museum.
Waymark Code: WMR1MD
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Date Posted: 04/28/2016
Views: 13
A plaque at the base of the tower advises, in both Irish and English:
The Record Tower
This is the last medieval tower, not only of the castle, but also of Dublin City.
It was the mightiest of the Norman corner towers. With 4.6m (15ft) thick walls, it was highly suited to its function as a top security jail for State prisoners.
The most famous of all the escapes from Dublin Castle took place here on 6th January 1592, when Red Hugh O'Donnell and Art and Henry O'Neill, sons of Ulster chieftains who were being held hostage on the orders of Lord Deputy Perrot, made their successful getaway through the toilet chute.
The Dublin Castle website tells us about the Record Tower:
The Great Courtyard (The Upper Castle Yard enclosure) today corresponds closely with the medieval castle.
The south-east Record Tower is the last intact tower, not only of Dublin Castle but also of the town itself. It was the mightiest of all with 4.6m thick walls - very suited to its function as a high security prison. The Irish Chieftain, Red Hugh O'Donnell, made his second and successful escape from here, on the evening of the 12th January 1592. He was being held to guarantee the good behaviour of his father, at the time of the attempt of the Spanish Armada to invade England.