A wandering goat has been brought back down to Earth after scaling a 100ft tower at a ruined castle in Co Donegal.
Visitors to Northburgh Castle in the Ballyboes area of the Inishowen peninsula spotted the errant kid goat atop the tower on Monday, and soon realised that despite having clambered up the ruin by itself, it was unable to make the descent back down.
Pictures taken at the scene show the goat looking down from what remains of a wall of the 14th century hold, which is known locally as Greencastle. It was determined that the kid had been on top of the ruin for up to three days.
Concerned visitors alerted the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) after trying, and failing, to coax it back down.
A rescue operation swung into action to retrieve the adventurous kid from the castle, which was once the stronghold of 14th century noble and Earl of Ulster, Richard Óg de Burgh, from where he controlled the expanse of Lough Foyle.
An ISPCA spokesperson said its superintendent inspector Kevin McGinley strapped on climbing equipment and scaled the ruin himself in order to reach the goat, and carry it back down to the lough shore on which the castle stands.
“On getting Ivy down to ground level and to safety, it became clear that the goat had a leg injury,” the spokesperson said.
“She was transported to a nearby veterinary practice for an assessment of her injuries and was subsequently treated for a fractured leg.”
They added that Ivy was later taken to the ISPCA’s Animal Rehabilitation Centre near the village of Ramelton.
“She will be on restricted mobility rest for the next six weeks until her leg has healed, and the cast has been removed,” the spokesperson said.
“Although she was a little stunned and underweight following her dramatic rescue, she is eating well and is expected to make a full recovery.”
The ISPCA is currently investigating how the goat managed to reach the tower top, and is also appealing for anyone willing to give Ivy a permanent home upon her recovery to contact them.
Northburgh Castle, which was once captured by the brother of Scottish king Robert the Bruce, was eventually abandoned to ruin in the early 18th century.
It is linked to the famous skeleton on the Derry coat of arms, which represents a cousin of Richard Óg de Burgh’s grandson, who was reputedly starved to death in the castle’s dungeon.
