castles historical ireland

Cahir Castle is one of Ireland's largest and best preserved castles situated on a rocky island on the river Suir. The castle's attractions include an excellent audio-visual show called "Partly Hidden and Partly Revealed" (English/French/German/Italian). The show informs visitors of all the main sites of the area. There are also several exhibitions.

The castle was acquired by the Office of Public Works as a National Monument in 1964 and a major scheme of conservation work was undert...

An imposing tower house and bawn with rounded turrets and wishing chair. Built in 1495 by the Mountgarret family. On private land....

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...

Running through the western end of the estate is the River Maine, a substantial river, a large part of which can be waded. Chest waders are recommended and a stout wading staff is needed. The river provides nearly 3 miles of unique angling in more attractive surroundings.

Access:
This shall be by the Grand Entrance or White gates, off the Randalstown/Antrim Road. Drivers are requested to keep their cars parked on the hard road where possible.

A stocking progra...

A small oblong tower, with two three-quarters round turrets (one a staircase) at diagonally opposite corners, and dating to the late 16th century. It was originally surrounded by a strong wall and traces of the ditch outside this wall still remain. It was taken by Docwra in 1601 but returned to Sir Cahir O'Doherty in 1603. It was besieged again in 1607 but not take by the English until 1608 and was later granted to Sir Arthur Chichester. For a long time it remained an important English garri...

Known to have been owned by Shane Ballagh in 1574, this is a 16th century tower of five storeys, with the ground and second floor vaulted.
A spiral staircase, as usual, leads to the top. The castle was damaged when it was occupied in 1920....

A landmark on the eastern shore of Lough Corrib for almost seven centuries, it was originally built in the 13th century by Adam Gaynard and occupied by the Gaynard family until the 17th century when George Staunton acquired the castle and the lands.

It remained in his family until 1946, when it became a ruin. Now restored to its former glory with 13th century materials, it is a rare example of a medieval hall house....

Drimnagh Castle was, until 1954 one of the oldest continually inhabited Castles in Ireland, and is an outstanding example of an old feudal stronghold.

It is the only Irish castle still to be surrounded by a flooded moat, a very picturesque feature, described in 1780 as a "very deep ditch of water supplied from the Green Hills". It is now stocked with fish.

The castle, built of local grey limestone, consists of a restored Great Hall and medieval undercroft, a tall battlement tower...

Possibly the best-preserved tower-house in a county which has many well-preserved examples. The tower is 5 storeys high, with the third storey vaulted. Beside having a guard's room, and a 'dog's hole', the ground floor has an oven which was added later.

There are a number of good fireplaces preserved on the various floors, with ahead on that of the first floor. The fourth floor has attractive mullioned windows framed in arches. The tower if surrounded by an extremely well-preserved...

The ruins of Roches Castle and three churches are set in a very natural setting near Glanworth.
Near these ruins is the Thirteen Arch Bridge which was built in 1600.
Built over the River Funcheon, it is one of the oldest of its kind found in Ireland....