Spectacular location for a unique Norman castle

Dundrum Castle was built by John de Courcy in 1172 on a spectacular vantage point overlooking Dundrum Bay and the mighty Mourne Mountains. De Courcy was a renegade knight who traveled to the north of Ireland soon after Strongbow’s invasion and carved himself his own personal Kingdom. This lasted for 30 years until he was eventually expelled by Hugh de Lacy in 1203. De Lacy further strengthened the castle with the massive 3 floored round keep that you can see today. The castle initially stayed under Crown control but over the following centuries passed in and out of some of the most powerful families in Irish history including The Magennis Family, The Earls of Kildare, Lord Deputy Grey, Lord Mountjoy, Lord Cromwell, Francis Blundell, The Parliamentarians, The Blundells and eventually the Marquess of Downshire. It is now a State Care Historic Monument. The BBC’s ‘Time Team’ made one of their most entertaining programs on this fascinating site.

*Thanks to Rod Piker Drones for another amazing video