Innis Chonnell

Innis Chonnell, ruins of the castle visible among the trees

Innischonnell (Scottish Gaelic: Innis Chonaill) is an island in Loch Awe, Scotland. It is part of Kilchrenan and Dalavich parish, in Argyll. The island is fourteen miles east of Kilmartin, Argyll.[1]

Castle

The castle that stands on the wooded island of Innis Chonnell has thick outer walls.[1] It was the original stronghold of the Clan Campbell from possibly the eleventh century or earlier.[1] It was the seat of Cailean Mór (Sir Colin Campbell) who was killed fighting the Clan MacDougall at the Battle of Red Ford in 1296.[1] Later John MacDougall held the castle against Robert the Bruce in 1308.[1] Sir Colin Campbell's son, Sir Neil Campbell, married Bruce's sister, Mary, and Sir Neil fought for the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.[1] Innis Chonnel Castle was abandoned by the Campbells as their residence in the fifteenth century, but it was still used as a prison.[1] The young Domhnall Dubh (Donald), son of Aonghas Óg (Angus) and heir to the Lordship of the Isles, was imprisoned in the castle after the Battle of Bloody Bay, which took place off the coast of the Isle of Mull in 1484.[1] He escaped but after invading Badenoch in 1503 he was recaptured and imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle for forty years.[1] Innis Chonnell Castle was ruinous by the nineteenth century.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Coventry, Martin. (2008). Castles of the Clans: The Strongholds and Seats of 750 Scottish Families and Clans. pp. 76 - 87. ISBN 978-1-899874-36-1.

Coordinates: 56°15′24″N 5°16′4″W / 56.25667°N 5.26778°W / 56.25667; -5.26778

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