castles historical ireland

Donegal Castle is located in Donegal town in County Donegal in the Northwest of Ireland. The Castle is situated in the centre of the town on a rock outcrop overlooking the River Eask. It was built by one of the O'Donnell chieftains in the 15th century.
Donegal Castle was the residence of the O'Donnell Family, who were originally loyal subjects of Queen Elizabeth I. This changed when the last of the family "Red" Hugh O'Donnell, with his friend, Hugh O'Neill rebelled and fought a bloody n...

This Castle was built on a sanctuary of the Celtic Goddess of love and poetry, Matres. The square castle was built by the 7th Earl of Desmond in the mid 15th century. It has entered the history books several times. It was the place were Edmund Spenser and Walter Raleigh first met and is said to have inspired ‘The Faerie Queene’.

It was owned by the family of Robet Southwell, the metaphysical poet and is linked to the journey of the two Wesleyite converts who founded the first Methodist c...

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 14th/15th century castle on the shore of Galway Bay, it was originally the seat of the Blakes.
When the Blakes left Oranmore the house attached to the castle was demolished. The castle has since been re-roofed and made habitable....

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

Ardglass contains more medieval tower-houses than any other town in Ireland, reflecting its importance as Ulster's busiest port in the 15th century. Jordan's Castle was probably built in the 15th century and, like others of its kind, was a fortified family residence, owned, in this instance, by the Jordan family. Simon Jordan is celebrated for having defended the castle for three years during the Tyrone Rebellion until relieved by the Lord Deputy, Mountjoy, in 1601. Jordan's Castle is a good...

A 15th century three-storey tower, one half of which has fallen away. The tower stands in a polygonal bawn with square turrets. A building in the south-east of the bawn was apparently added later. The castle was owned in 1574 by the MacDonnells who had been mercenaries in the Burke armies. In 1596 Brabazon, Clanrickard and Darcy captured the castle but evacuated it shortly afterwards on hearing of the approach of Red Hugh O'Donnell. It remained in MacDonnell hands until bought by Sir Benjam...

Castle: This is a 15th or 16th century tower-house of 3 storeys, and with good trefoil headed windows. Its most unusual feature is the excellent corbelled roof (in the same technique as the Newgrange chamber roof, 4,000 years older!) which is on the third storey. The famous antiquarian Ussher lived nearby for some time. It was repaired by Captain Brabazon in 1641. A bawn with rounded turret which belonged to the castle has disappeared. High Cross: In the graveyard of St. Fechin's Church...

This area has strong connections with the Anglo-Norman Agnew family, and the cemetery has many stones of early families associated with the castle and surrounding areas....

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...