BERMINGHAM TOWER, DUBLIN CASTLE. -The foregoing picture represents the Bermingham Tower, of Dublin Castle, which was partially rebuilt in 1810, and is about the only part of the fortress begun by Meyler FitzHenry, Norman Lord Justice, in 1205, and completed by Archbishop Henri de Loundres, in 1220.
De Bermingham of Connaught and other places, to MacFeorais or MacPeoruis (signifying "The son of Pearse" or Percy, and a quo Pearse, Pearce, Peirs, Piers, Pearson, Pierson, Peterson), from one of their Chiefs; Fitzsimon of the King's County, to MacRuddery (ridire: Irish, "a knight"), signifying "The son of the knight."
Eve de Bermingham b. abt 1160 married Gerald Fitzgerald; a baron of O'Brien Munster, Montgomery, barony of Italy and son of Maurice Fitzgerald. Gerald's father Maurice was an established grandson of Rhys ap Tewdwr (Tudor)... He married a de Cogan. In Muskerry East in Cork, part of Múscraighe Mittaine was granted to Richard de Cogan in 1207, associated with Murphy clan and barony of the Muscraighe, and MacCarthy of Blarney Castle. The grandsons of Eve and Gerald: one Fitzgerald, one Windsor.
The castle has been the malodorous seate of English government in Ireland for more than three hundred years. Since 1560, in the reign of Elizabeth, it has been the residence of the English Lords Lieutenant, and has been theatre of many black crimes committed against the Irish nation. In its dungeouns chiefs have been cruelly imprisoned and in its councils innumerable plots against the liberty of Ireland have been hatched.
The name of "The Castle" is as hateful to most Irish ears, as that of the Bastile was to the ears of the French. It became particularly infamous during the '98 troubles, chiefly because of the manufacture there of odious spies and villianous informers.
Many Irishmen, and Englishmen also, favor the abolition of the viceroyalty and "the Castle" with it. Bermingham Tower is in the Lower Castle Yard, and it is the repository of the state records.