castles historical ireland

It is a ruin standing on a rocky promontory at the eastern end of the town. The castle was begun by Maurice Fitzgerald when he was granted the district in 1176, but his death a year later delayed its completion. In 1375 the castle was strengthened by William Fitzwilliam, whose descendants held the constableship for several generations. The castle was frequently attacked by the Irish and sometimes occupied by them. Early in the sixteenth century it was held by the O'Brynes, but they...

The sheltered Castle, Birch and Kellums Bays fringe the predominantly conifer and beech forest at Castlecaldwell. These three bays are managed as a nature reserve and are just a short walk through the woodland from the Exhibition Centre.

The journey through the woodland bypasses the old 17th Century castle which lies in ruins. Birds nest in its ivy clad walls. Nearing the bays, old oak trees form a ghost line along what was exposing new land. This foreshore has been colonised by natural...

Mrs. Bridget Aylee Owner of Ayesla Castle will welcome you personally and give you a guided tour of the castle and grounds....

Although the Normans had used this peninsula as early as 1201, it was not until 1227 that Geoffrey de Marisco first fortified it. In 1251 the Justiciar was ordered to levy tolls for the purpose of enclosing the vill or town, and repairing the castle. Between 1273 and 1279 large sums were spent on repairing the castle, and between 1299 and 1302 the Sheriff allowed £113 for the construction of a new hall.

About half a mile from the end of the peninsula, a wall, with a fortified gateway...

A castle probably erected by John Rosseter who was made Seneschal of the Liberties of Wexford in 1451, and whose family remained Catholics although they recognised Henry VIII in the 16th century. The tower stands in the south-eastern corner of a well-preserved bawn. The tower is five storeys high, and has battlements which are typical of the 15th and 16th centuries in Ireland.

The bawn wall is about 4 feet thick and 24 feet high, with a round turret at the north-eastern corner and a l...

The castle itself was built of a contrastingly dark basalt by Colla Dubh MacDonnell in 1547. The most prominent feature is the two-storey gabled tower guarding the entrance to a walled enclosure occupying much of the southern half of the island.

The castle was taken and partially destroyed by the English in 1555, but it remained in use for some considerable time afterwards. The walk up and down the steep pathway leading to the castle affords a wonderful panorama of Rathlin Island, wit...

A fine four-storey castle which is said to be older than the date of 1585 given in a window-recess on the top floor.
It was built by Randal Hurley who married Catherine Cullinane. She may be the person whose initials are given as 'C.C.' in a window inscription on the top floor.

The carvings and decorations in these windows are the most unusual feature of this castle; one shows a woman with three roses, thought to be Catherine Cullinane and her three children, and the other has a...

Opposite the park is Cabra Castle, 19th century seat of the Pratts, and now a hotel.
The original Cabra Castle was an early 18th century Palladian villa and when it was destroyed, Colonel Joseph Pratt bought the adjoining property, Cormey Castle in the early 19th century and established a new seat for his family.

The original house was used as a ballroom until it was destroyed by fire in the 1950's.
The castle grounds accommodate a picturesque 9 hole golf course which is open to...

Kirkistown Castle built by Roland Savagh in 1622. The castle is in fact a tower house, one of the fortified private homes built from the fifteenth to the early seventeenth century by local landlords often as a protection from each other. This one has the remains of a bawn round it. The Savage family were the Norman landlords of the 'Little Ardes' and they built many of these small castles. Portaferry Castle is known to be an earlier one of theirs, erected in 1500....

Ballindooley Castle, on the Headford road out from Galway, has been fully restored to its former glory....