AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR PROGRAMS

The Siege of Cahir Castle took place in Munster, in southern Ireland in 1599, during the campaign of the Earl of Essex against the rebels in the Nine Years War (1595-1603). Although the castle was considered the strongest fortress in the country, Essex took it after only a few days of artillery bombardment. However, Queen Elizabeth dismissed her commander's achievement, claiming the defenders were merely a "rabble of rogues".

Having arrived at Dublin in April 1599 at the head of the largest army ever seen in Ireland (16,000 troops and 1,300 horse), Essex avoided confrontation with the northern rebels under Hugh O'Neill, and chose instead to settle the southern part of the country, which was most susceptible to Spanish interference at a time when England feared another Armada expedition. In the course of a controversial, and largely wasteful, tour of the province of Munster, he secured the surrender of Derrinlaur Castle on the river Suir, before fixing his sights on the greater prize of Cahir Castle further upriver.

For any force hoping to penetrate westward from the Suir and deep into rebel country, the capture of Cahir castle was a necessity. It stood on a rock in the middle of the river, and was considered impregnable by its situation, with its large keep enjoying the protection of six stout towers and thick curtain walls.

At the time, the castle was the property of the Irish nobleman, Lord Cahir, and in the custody of his brother, James Galdie ("the Englishman"). Before the capture of Derrinlaur Castle, Essex had accused Cahir of colluding with the rebel White Knight. But as the English army prepared to march from the riverside town of Clonmel, Cahir gave assurances that James Galdie would surrender the castle as soon as they came in view.

Siege of Cahir Castle in 1599.On the morning of 25 May, Essex divided the army into 3 battles, the vanguard to lead and the main battle to assemble on the fair green a mile outside Clonmel. Artillery - a cannon and a culverin - was brought by water into the quay under Essex's supervision. With the protection of the rearguard and a troop of horse, the guns were dragged by hand the 10 miles to Cahir (for want of draught horses), in poor weather over bridges that groaned under their weight. Essex rode ahead with the army and overtook the vanguard; they stopped a mile short of the castle and waited for the artillery.

Lord Cahir was sent ahead (with Henry Danvers, lieutenant general of the horse) to call on his brother to surrender and allow an English garrison to enter; he was answered with threats and insults by those who came out to parley with him, and was then accused by Essex of breach of faith. He proposed a further parley, but Essex was determined to capture the castle, and he placed Cahir and his wife under guard.

A council of war was called in the presence of the Earl of Ormond. The army was stationary, with supplies running low; and in poor weather on a flooded river plain the hazard of disease was increasing. There was also a rumour of a rebel force of 5,000 in the vicinity. Orders were given to procure more munitions from Waterford, as well as victuals from the town and surrounding country.

In the evening, Essex viewed the castle with George Bingham, who had successfully besieged Maguire's island castle in Enniskillen in 1594. It was decided that approaches should be made along the east bank by way of old ditches and a wall, and that a trench be dug close up to the riverbank, within 50 paces of the castle, where a platform for the cannon might be erected. The engineers worked under cover of the musketeers and caliver men, with gabions (wicker baskets filled with earth) before them. The culverin was to be placed further back, with a wider view of the castle flanks.

On Saturday the 26th, the vanguard and main battle moved closer to the castle to camp on the east bank; Essex chose not to surround the castle by occupying the west bank with a detachment, for fear that his men would be unable to make it back to fend off any attack. In the afternoon, there was free traffic in and out of the castle, and he ordered a detachment of 300 to seize the orchard garden on the southside, which had been plashed on its outer edges: this was readily achieved with the loss of only a few men, although the English had been especially vulnerable as they crossed the river.

Late in the day, the rearguard arrived with the artillery. After a night of preparation, the guns were in place on the east bank on Whitsun Sunday, the 27th, and opened fire. The cannon was at point-blank range, but its carriage broke at the second shot, which damage took a day and a half to repair. A ball stuck in the culverin, but this was quickly cleared, and fifty shots were fired, until the garrison was silenced: they dared not stay in any tower or fight on that side of the castle. During the cannonade, Lord Cahir and his wife were said to have wept like children.

From the west ba

The Episcopal Church of the Advent in downtown Birmingham, Alabama.

The church underwent a full-scale "Masonry Preservation" campaign between 2001 and 2005 which included removing inappropriate mortar and placing new lime-based mortar, replacing flashings and gutters, replacing copings and parapets with new anchors and flashings, and overhauling the site drainage to keep water away from the structure.