History
The Island was fashioned by nature. Picturesque and enchanting,
sheltered and secure. Its strategic location, in a pivotal position
near Waterford City and its important port, brought it historical
fame and caused it to play a major role in the history of the
region. It reaches back into time, a time capsule that reflects
history.
According to tradition a Monastic settlement existed on the island
sometime between the sixth and eighth centuries and two "finds"
on the land have lent substance to this: A Winged Angel dating
from the 8th century and the crude carving of a Monk's head,
which is now prominently displayed over the main entrance to
the Castle, dating from the 6th Century. The island's seclusion
was attractive to the Monks, however due to its strategic importance
they came under frequent attack and were eventually forced to
move to safer quarters.
The Island was then home to a Danish settlement with two Castles
guarding the river at the North and South and was thereafter
referred to in annals as Dane's Island or Island Vryk.
Maurice Fitzgerald, cousin of Strongbow, the English Earl of
Pembroke, landed in Waterford during the Norman invasion of Ireland
1160. During a battle he was taken prisoner by the Ossermen of
Waterford and held on the island until rescued by his son-in-law
to rejoin the victorious Norman Army.
He was rewarded for his support of the invasion by becoming potentate
over large tracts of land in Munster and Leinster including the
island on which he decided to make his home, thus sealing the
fate of the island for eight centuries, being home to the Earls
of Kildare and Ormond and the Knights of Glin and Kerry, in one
of the longest unbroken stewardships on record in Ireland.
The first structure built by the Fitzgeralds was a Norman Keep;
a tower like stone structure with thick wall, narrow arrow slit
windows and a lead roof. At that time the Keep would have been
the core of any defence in battle and would have been virtually
impregnable.
By the 15th century, the ruins of the Keep were no longer habitable.
A tower, the centre part of the present Castle, was then constructed
on the site of the old Keep. Initially it was relatively modest
in size but over the years was enlarged. Firstly in 1849 by John
Fitzgerald and subsequently in 1875 and 1895 when the East and
West wings were added. Built entirely of stone, they completed
the main structure to such an extent that, now, they are indistinguishable.
Up until the present century the Castle retained its original
arrow slit windows, giving a fortress like exterior and a rather
dark uncomfortable interior. It was during the last stage of
expansion that the farm buildings and stable yard were completed
developing the island to support an entire community.
Another feature added to the Castle during the centuries was
the roof top gargoyles. Brought here from Castle Irwell in Manchester,
which belonged to a female ancestor, they are of great antiquity
and interest.
The Fitzgeralds, were during the 15th and 16th centuries the
Kings of Ireland in all but name and held many feasts and banquets
on the island.
The Castle was never out of the social limelight and figured
prominently in the 18th century as the home of Mary Frances Fitzgerald,
a formidable lady, who dominated the social world of the time.
At one stage engaged to the Duke of Wellington - The Iron Duke,
who defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo and later became
a British Prime Minister - she broke off the engagement to marry
her first cousin, John Purcell in 1801. An extravagant lady who
was in the habit, on her return to the family seat, of being
rowed in state across the river with twenty-four musicians playing
in the barge.
Of her children Edward Fitzgerald is best remembered as the translator
of Omar Khayyam's Rubajyat. The Sylvan tranquillity of this island
retreat brought forth its rewards and it was and still is considered
a masterpiece.
Edward Fitzgerald was the great, great uncle of Mary Fitzgerald,
who was the last of that name to own the Castle. Mary Fitzgerald
married an Italian Prince, Prince Caracciolo, whom she met while
studying in Italy. On their return they made their home in Dublin,
where she was a prominent patron of the Arts.
In 1958, the Igoe family bought the property from the Princess
Caracciolo, thus ending the remarkable link between the Fitzgeralds
and the Island. The Igoes' installed a five acre complex of glasshouses
from which they produced fruits and flowers sold extensively
the home and export markets. The chain link ferry was also commissioned
at this time.
Their interest in the venture and the island passed to the Farren
Brothers who concentrated on tomato growing, updating the roads
and fencing throughout the island. In 1978 the island was rented
to Roger Shipsey, a Waterford Pedigree Dairy farmer, who later
bought the island outright. He saw a great advantage of the island
as a disease free area due to its isolation.
Eddie Kearns, who bought The Island in 1987 has both preserved
its past and secured its future by opening the beauty of the
Castle and the Island to all visitors by developing it into a
luxurious Hotel and Country Club.
Today, the Castle is owned by a consortium of Irish business
people. |
