In Ireland, just beyond the village of Ross Gray, in the county of Offaly lies the ruins of Alep Castle.

It's a 16th century castle, with a dark history and a dangerous, pervading, presence.

According to archaeological records, the castle was built on the ancient site that dates back to the Neolithic period.

In this current century, more than a hundred skeletons were unearthed in the castle dungeons,

and they were said to be victims of a fearsome tribal clan battle long ago.

It was believed that the O'Carrolls would throw their captured enemies down into the dungeon,

where strategically placed were scores of sharpened sticks pointing upwards.

Their enemies would fall onto the sticks, become impaled upon them,

and die a slow and terribly painful death. The castle is believed to have been built by the

Obanan clan, and it's one of the oldest inhabited castles in Ireland. It became best known

as a stronghold for the O'Carroll clan, to serve as a position from which they could

guard the past through the slave-bloom mountains. It was a strongly fortified castle, and the

O'Carroll clan were a ferocious bunch, determined to rule over any other rivals. They

were said to be willing to kill anyone who stood in their way, and this included each other,

if necessary.

The leader of the O'Carrolls is believed to have grown to mistrust his own loyal supporters,

and ordered the butchering of many of his own soldiers.

In another incident, a coup was staged by the clan leader's brother,

who stormed into the castle in the dead of night with his band of supporters,

and he found his brother praying in the chapel. He killed his brother by thrusting a sword into his body. The O'Carrolls

maintained dominion over the castle until 1642, when Englishman Jonathan Darby, a soldier serving under

Oliver Cromwell, wrestled the castle from their grip.

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