When the castle was summoned the garrison refused to surrender, but they shortly afterwards reconsidered their decision and left their great guns, arms, ammunition, and provisions in the hands of the victors.
Shortly afterwards the castle was, however, re-taken by a trick. Some Royalist supporters feasted the men of the garrison and sent women to them to sell whiskey. When they were helplessly drunk the Irish overpowered them and took possession of the castle.
The Governor, Captain Todd, and his wife, as well as the officers under him, were all put to death. Only four of the soldiers were spared, they having betrayed the fortress for the sum of £7.
As soon as Colonel Cooke, the Governor of Wexford, heard of the outrage he marched to Enniscorthy and took the castle by storm, killing every one of the Irish garrison.
The first Earl of Portsmouth repaired the building and leased it to Adam Colclough in 1745.
During the rebellion of 1798 it was used as a prison by the insurgents during the period that Enniscorthy remained in their hands.
They greatly defaced the place, but the Earl of Portsmouth restored it between 1806 and 1812, altering it to the requirements of a modern residence for his agent. After this period it had many tenants.
From 1852 to 1863 it was used as an estate office, and a printing press was also erected within the walls. It was from here that the Enniscorthy News was first issued.
It fell into a state of dilapidation about 1863, though in 1867 it was used as a temporary barracks for the extra police required in the town during the Fenian rising.
In 1898 it was sold to Mr. P. J. Roche of New Ross.