castles historical ireland

The mightiest of the castles along the County Down coast, Dundrum was probably built by John de Courcy in the last decades of the 12th century. It is first mentioned in the historical records when it was unsuccessfully besieged in 1205, though taken by King John five years later. The upper of the two wards, on the top of the commanding hiss, is dominated by a tall, round keep or donjon with immensely thick walls, from the top of which a splendid view may be had over the sea and many parts of s...

A smaller, but older, medieval tower house than Ardee Castle. It was given by Cromwell to the Hatch family. It is still used as a residence and contains two eighteenth century cannons at its entrance....

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

O'Doherty's Keep was originally a small Norman castle but it became an important landmark during the nine years war, when Hugh "Boy" O'Doherty renovated it in 1602. O'Doherty's Keep was intended for use by the Spaniards who were supposed to land on the Inishowen peninsula to assist the Irish rebels against Queen Elizabeth. Unfortunately the Spanish arrived in the wrong part of the country. O'Doherty's Keep was shortly burned by the English. It is uncertain whether it was renovated during th...

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...

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...

Kinsale can easily claim its place amongst Ireland's most historic locations for this has been a centre of population, commerce, trade and fishing far beyond memory and record.

In its earliest days the estuary of the Bandon River gave it great importance as the river is tidal as far as Innishannon and water transport was dominant until the 18th Century.
The estuary also provided excellent anchorage for ancient shipping which went in peril of the vagaries of the weather.

T...

Of the three castles which one guarded the port, this was probably the one originally named Coraine. It is a four-storey tower, scarcely earlier than the 16th century, with gun-loops on the ground floor.

It is thought to have been built by the Bissets, and is located close to where Edward Bruce is believed to have landed in 1315....

A spectacular group of medieval buildings set on an outcrop of limestone in the Golden Vale including the 12th century round tower, High Cross and Romanesque Chapel, 13th century Gothic cathedral, 15th century castle and the restored Hall of the Vicars.

Features include an audio visual show entitled "Strongholds of Faith", which is available in English, French, Italian and German as well as various other exhibitions.

Please note that this is a very busy site and visitors m...

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...