Castle Sween (12 of 12) - a photo on Flickriver

            As stated previously, Castle Sween was granted to the Earls of Argyll in 1481 by King James III, who was fearful of MacDonald  treachery.  For more than a century, little or nothing is heard of Castle Sween, which implies that the Campbells had little use for it and it was probably cared for by a Campbell constable.  That peaceful existance came to an end during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, in the mid-17th century.  

In 1644, Alasdair Mac Colla arrived in Ardnamurchan from Ireland and joined forces with James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose.  Throughout 1644 and most of 1645, they were unstoppable, winning an unbroken series of improbable victories against the Covenanters.  With Scotland effectively in their hands, Montrose turned his attention towards the King's enemies south of the border, while Alasdair Mac Colla set about his number one priority - ridding Scotland of Campbells - particularly those inhabiting former MacDonald lands!

Without Mac Colla and his Irishmen, Montrose was defeated at the Battle of Philiphaugh in September 1645.  Mac Colla, with the remaining Irish clansmen, ignored King Charles's orders to lay down their arms and continued the conflict in the western Highlands, allegedly refusing cooperation with a remaining Royalist force under George Gordon, 2nd Marquess of Huntly, who still held out in the north.  He went on to win a further victory against the Campbells at Lagganmore, following which he was said to have burned down a building full of Campbell women and children that was henceforth known as Sabhal nan Cnamh, the "Barn of Bones".  The campaign petered out in a series of sieges of castles in Knapdale and Kintyre.  So it was that Mac Colla arrived here and after a brief siege, took and sacked the castle.  

Mac Colla was eventually defeated at the Battle of Rhunahaorine Moss in May 1647 and withdrew to Islay and then to Antrim, leaving garrisons behind him as he went*, where he was killed in November 1647.

Castle Sween was never used as a castle again, however archaeological excavation of part of the east range in 1989-90 uncovered evidence of industrial use, including a forge and kilns. 

(We will hear more about the men he left behind, at the castle after next!)

Taken in: UK / Scotland / Keillmore (show map)

Taken on: August 9, 2022

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MacGibbon & Ross v.3 p.58

Castle Sween

Castle Swin

Caisteal Suibhne

Sweyn

Suibhne

Sven

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Macneill

Knapdale

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