castles historical ireland

Centrepiece of Baltimore is the ruin of the 17th century castle, seat of the O'Driscoll clan....

It's entered by a gate-house, with corbelled turrets of Scottish type. To the right on entering are the pillars of a unique open loggia in the Italian style, which must have become redundant when the Great Hall was built up against it early in the 17th century. This two-storeyed hall, with fine (partially reconstructed) windows to the west, is a gracious building with finely moulded stones at parapet level which once supported the long-vanished roof. Beyond are kitchens and domestic quarters,...

The Castle:
this Norman castle was built by Robert de Ufford, Lord Justice of Ireland, in 1269. But it passed into Irish hands seven years later when it was taken by Hugh O'Conor, King of Connacht. It was restored in 1280. The O'Kellys gained possession of the castle in 1308 when Donogh O'Kelly slaughtered many of the inhabitants. But the O'Conors took it again in 1341. Taken by the Earl of Kildare on an expedition to Connacht in 1499, it was granted to Mac William Bourke in 154...

The castle was built by Sir Thomas Plunkett probably some time around the middle of the 15th century. It consists of a central block, four storeys high and square corner towers, which have corbelled roofing.

The wooden roof on the top floor, which has been partially replaced, is the last original 15th to 16th century roof in the country to survive. It served as a model for the modern reconstructed roofs at Rothe House, Kilkenny and Bunratty Castle, County Clare.
Just to the south of...

A tower house with rounded corners built in 1450 by Dermot MacCarthy, Lord of Munster.
The top is modern. There is an ogee-headed window in the third floor. In 1641 it was garrisoned in support of Charles 1.

About 1643 additions were made to the castle, and several fireplaces were inserted with the monogram 'W' - the Wallis family who owned it till the end of the 19th century.

It was again garrisoned by the Fenian rising of 1867, and repaired in the last century by Lady...

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...

Listowel Castle is famous for being the birth place of Earl Kitchener of Khartoum. He is best known for his sombre face, and accusing finger, with the caption "Your Country Needs You," on recruitment posters during World War I.

The monument of a less loyal family are the ruins of Listowel Castle, the last bastion against Queen Elizabeth. It was built in the 15th century by a McGilligan. It was the last fortress of the Desmond's to be subdued. It fell to Sir Charles Wilmo...

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...

A landmark dominating land and sea which has for centuries been the gateway to Northern Ireland....