castles historical ireland

A road on the left at Lecarrow leads to a pleasant lakeside amenity area beyond which is the castle standing on a promontory projecting into the lake.

This was built in 1214 but, according to the Annals of the Four Masters, an earlier fortification was built there in 1156. For a time this castle was in the hands of the Knights Hospitallers and is sometimes called St. John's Castle; it is an example of medieval military architecture....

Blossom Gate. This is the only gate remaining from the medieval town wall of Kilmallock.
The Collegiate Church. The Round Tower of this church may have originally been part of an earlier monastery. The probably 13th century church has three aisles, a chancel and it’s south wall contains a 13th century door. It’s use as by the Church of Ireland had a bearing on the history of the Earls of Desmond; being the place where the ‘Sugan’ Earl surrendered in 1600 and where the 15th Earl attended a...

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...

The history of the Talbots of Malahide stretches back virtually unbroken to 1185 when the property was granted to Robert Talbot by Prince John, Lord of Ireland.
The castle is the oldest to be continually inhabited by the same family and, apart from a period during which they were evicted by Cromwell, the Talbots lived there until 1975.
The castle has the only surviving original medieval great hall hung with an impressive collection of family portraits. It is said that 14 Talbot cousins b...

This is a well-preserved four-storey tower with good fireplaces on the three upper floors. The two-and-three-mullioned windows, and the oval hole at the bottom of the stairs, were probably copied from Portumna Castle nearby, which had only recently been built.

The tower forms part of an L-shaped bawn with rounded turrets at opposite corners. On the corbels of the turret at the north-eastern corner of the tower is the inscription 'D': OM ME: FIERI: FECIT: 1643' which states that a man...

Well-preserved four-storey tower house which withstood a siege around 1600. Largest of cluster of castles built in Ardglass in Middle Ages to protect the port. Other tower houses at Kilclief and Strangford....

Shanes Castle, the family seat of the O'Neills of Clanaboy, is magnificently situated at the North East corner of Lough Neagh with commanding views over the length and breadth of the Lough. Although the castle has been in ruins since the fire of 1816, the remaining structure including a unique Camellia House is a substantial feature in the landscape.

There has been a Feral herd of fallow deer at Shanes Castle for many years. Shanes Castle Demesne is one of the most beautiful and well...

A motte, causeway and bailey possibly started by Pipard around 1193 and made into a castle in 1197. the first fortification was made of wood, but the stone castle was erected in 1244. It was delivered up to the Crown in 1302, and was abandoned in the 15th century.

The motte is covered in trees, but some of the walls of the castle still remain. The motte was joined to the castle by means of a stone causeway or bridge, probably erected in 1244....

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,...

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...