castles historical ireland

From Vico Road follow Victoria Road uphill around the edge of Killiney Hill park. On the left as you approach the village is Ayesha Castle, which was built in 1840 by Robert Warren and named Victoria Castle in honour of queen Victoria's recent accession to the throne.

The interior was gutted by fire in 1928 and was magnificently restored by Sir Thomas Power of the celebrated whiskey family. He renamed it Ayesha Castle after the goddess who rose from the flames in Rider Haggard's novel sh...

Everyone who visits Tully Castle appreciates its beautiful setting on a point in Lower Lough Erne, but not everyone is aware of its secrets.
The castle was built by a scottish planter, Sir John Hume, with strong defensive 'bawn' walls around it in 1610 - 13. Historically it is a 'time capsule', as it was lived in for just 30 years before its tragic end.
When Sir John died, his son Sir George inherited the castle but in 1641, as part of the great uprising at that time, Rory Maguire...

Clogh Oughter is unusual in being a round 13th century castle, built on an island in Lough Oughter. It was probably begun by William Gorm de Lacy around 1220, and to this period may be ascribed the masonry of the two lower floors.

It was presumably built up to its full height during the following two centuries when it served as a stronghold of the O'Reilly clan, either in their own dynastic struggles or as a defence against their traditional foes, the O'Rourkes of Breifne, until taken f...

About 12km out of Clifden on the Galway Road is the turn right for Toombeola. Some 5km along this road is Ballynahich Castle, now a hotel, but once the home of the great Martin family, who owned and ruled Connemara from 1700 to the period of the Great Famine (1845-47).

Here was born Richard Martin, the duellist and lover of animals, once known as - Hair-trigger Dick- by George IV because he was instrumental in founding the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The...

TITLED/UNTITLED, the current exhibition at Lismore Castle, Co Waterford, Ireland is an unusual collaborative exhibition bringing together work from the Devonshire Collection and Rubell Family Collection based in Miami; works from the Devonshire Collection having been selected by the Rubell Family, while pieces from the Rubell Collection were selected by William and Laura Burlington.

The complex relationships that exist between the collector, the artwork and the passage of time are ex...

When the Normans built a castle they built it to last. Enniscorthy Castle, in the centre of the town and overlooking the Slaney River, proves the point. Nearly 800 years after its construction, the huge castle is still in remarkable condition. Though restored and modernised in recent times many original features remain.

The three drum towers which flank the castle are classics of their kind. Down the centuries the castle had many owners, including the poet Edmund Spenser. It is said that...

At the pier there are the remains of a MacMahon castle, captured in 1599 by the Earl of Thomond and given to his brother, Donal O'Brien, ancestor of the viscounts Clare of Clare's Dragons fame. (The Dragoons were part of the late 17th and 18th century Irish Brigade - composed of Irish exiles - in the French Army). When the property was confiscated after the Williamite wars, Carraigaholt Castle and part of the estate passed to the Burton family....

The family home of the Earls of Belmore, Castle Coole is one of the treasures of the National Trust. A magnificent neo-classical house designed by James Wyatt, has remarkably fine interiors and exquisite furniture and furnishing from before 1830. A lavish Regency Saloon with gilded mirrors and marvellous inlaid woodwork is rivalled by a lavish state bedroom, hung with crimson silk, said to have been prepared for George IV.

Impressive halls, staircase, a dining room of splendour an...

Dunamon Castle stands on raised ground overlooking the River Suck and is still inhabited. The site is referred to in the Annals of the Four Masters in 1154 as the seat of the O'Finaghtys, who owned all the land for miles around. The castle passed into the hands of the Burkes and in 1656 was bought by Robert King of Rickingham, one of Cromwell's henchmen, for £133.

In 1668 King's son, Lord Kingston, leased the castle to Thomas Caulfield and among the most colourful of the Caulfields was...

Family seat of the O'Neills at Clanaboy. The Demesne and nature reserve is one of the most beautiful and well maintained in Ireland. Bookings by appointment....