Monellan Castle Traditional Geocache

The Monellan Estate

Monellan Castle was built during the 1700s by the Delap family with part of the 35 room dwelling underground, to be used as a place of safety - if such was required. The castle and its grounds were in full glory for some time after the Catholic Emancipation Act in 1775, until its demolition in the 1930s - on orders given to the Irish Land Commission from the Government of the day.

Although it was the largest building in the Finn Valley at the time, set in beautiful surroundings second to none in the area, it cannot be clear whether it was a castle or a mansion house. It was locally known as both Monellan Castle and "The Big House".

Monellan was built by expert stonemasons from the localities of Meenreagh, Lismullaghduff and Killygordon, with Scottish supervisors looking after the work and took almost three years to complete. It also had a large number of outhouses for the use of the land stewards, servants, maids and coachmen. These buildings extended from a spot known locally as McGlynn's Bridge, and included Monellan Burn Pass, Edenoughill and Casey's Brae, and also included byres, stables and other buildings for domestic uses. Surrounding the main house were beautiful flower gardens, tennis courts and a bowling green.

The house, gardens, private grounds, arable land and small parts of the forest were protected by a high wall, extending three miles around most of the estate. Most of this wall still remains today and is really the only lasting sign of this once fine estate. No wall was required for the part of the estate adjoining the townland of Ballinaman, as a large tributary of the River Finn, known locally as Monellan Burn, served as protection.

The map and aerial photo above show just how much and how little the area has changed since the original buildings were demolished. It's probable that the presence of the estate wall has helped preserve the outline of what is now forestry.

The Irish Land Commission ordered the destruction of Monellan Castle in the 1930s. The Land Commission was created in 1881 as a rent fixing commission by the Irish Land Act 1881 for Ireland. Later the commission developed into a tenant-purchasing commission and assisted in the transfer of land from landlord to tenant. It's easy to say now that the destruction of the estate was a mistake but many local people benefited at the time. Some of the small farmers who had bad housing conditions were particularly lucky as the Land Commission built them new and better houses. Most of the stones from the castle were used to build roads on Cronlaughey and Meenlaught in early 1945. Most of the bogland divided at the time has been cut out and is no longer workable.

The Delap Family

The first Delap to come to Monellan was a Colonel in the British Army. He was given the estate in repayment for "services rendered to the Crown". The Colonel had a brother Sam who was the first to start the building of the "Big House". His son Robert was the last of the Delaps to own the estate prior to the Land Commission taking ownership. Robert was a trained barrister and a student with Daniel O' Connell. Soon after qualifying he changed from the practice of law to become a clergyman. Having completed his studies, he returned to Monellan Estate as Rev. Delap and became first Minister of St Anne's Church of Ireland, which he was responsible for building.

Rev. Delap is buried in the grounds of St. Anne's Church and his father Sam is buried in one of the aisles. He was buried standing up with a stone slab over the coffin. The slab had to be repaired several times due to subsidence as the coffin rotted away. Rev. Delap's daughters lived at the estate for over 20years after his death but eventually left when the estate was sold. They were buried as requested "in the grounds" with their dogs buried beside them. There are a number of graves close by the cache site but only one of them is marked as a friend of one of the daughters. It's pretty certain that this is the final resting place of Rev. Delap's daughters.

Getting There

From the N15 Ballybofey to Lifford road turn off at Killygordon for Crossroads. At the crossroads go straight on for Castlederg. Just past Donegal Creameries take the left turn over the old stone bridge. After approx 400m (N54°46.702', W007°41.628') turn right up a tarred road. This looks like a private lane but leads past some houses to the forest gate and the old entrance to the former estate.

The land is now owned and maintained by Coillte who operate an Open Forest Policy. This policy prohibits the use of vehicles and bicycles on forestry land. However, the gate is usually open to allow access to the grave site and parking is limited outside the gate. Just inside the gate there is a joining of tracks that provides better parking facilities which I'm sure won't contravene the Open Forest Policy too much. Please do not drive to the cache site.

The Cache

The cache is a 1.4l tab-lock box with a geocaching label on the outside.

When placed it contained the usual logbook, pencil, sharpener, assortment of trade items and a FTF prize.

GPS reception may be tricky at the cache site so make sure you have the hint with you.

PLEASE ONLY TRADE UP OR EVEN.

TBs MOVE BETWEEN CACHES AND REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF THE PERSON THAT RELEASED THEM. I DO NOT COUNT THEM AS TRADE ITEMS.

IF YOU WISH TO TAKE SOMETHING FROM THIS CACHE PLEASE DON'T LEAVE A TB IN IT'S PLACE. THANK YOU.

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