Fortified Tower Houses - CURIOUS IRELAND

Almost 3000 fortified tower houses were built in Ireland between 1430 and 1650 to protect the wealthier ‘Old English’ and Gaelic Irish families. No two are ever identical and most are 3 to 5 stories high. Many have collapsed, been demolished, or burnt to the ground but about 400 have survived and have been transformed into stunning family homes, hotels, or museums.

Carrigadrohid Castle, Killinardrish. County Cork 1465

emmet2023-06-24T14:15:30+00:00

The only fortified tower house built on an island in a river Carrigadrohid Castle is a rare example of a 15th-century fortified tower house due to the fact that it is built on a [...]

Carrigadrohid Castle, Killinardrish. County Cork 1465emmet2023-06-24T14:15:30+00:00

Ross Castle, Killarney. County Kerry c.1460

emmet2024-02-16T00:14:42+00:00

The most romantic castle in Kerry Ross Castle was built sometime in the late 15th century by the O'Donoghue Ross chieftains and was surrounded by a fortified bawn, curtain walls, and circular flanking [...]

Ross Castle, Killarney. County Kerry c.1460 emmet2024-02-16T00:14:42+00:00

White’s Castle, Athy. County Kildare 1417

emmet2024-10-21T18:23:38+00:00

Living on the edge Athy lies on the border of the medieval pale and has been a strategic location for thousands of years. It takes its name from a 2nd-century chieftain called 'Ae', [...]

White’s Castle, Athy. County Kildare 1417emmet2024-10-21T18:23:38+00:00

Narrow Water Castle, Warrenpoint. County Down 1560

emmet2024-03-10T19:38:14+00:00

One of Ireland's finest examples of a fortified tower-house Narrow Water Castle is located just outside the town of Warrenpoint on the banks of Carlingford Lough. It is regarded as one of the [...]

Narrow Water Castle, Warrenpoint. County Down 1560emmet2024-03-10T19:38:14+00:00

Doe Castle, Cresslough. County Donegal c.1500

emmet2023-05-04T21:04:20+00:00

The MacSweeney power-base Doe Castle was built by the MacSweeneys in the early 1500s. The MacSweeney’s were descendants of a class of elite Norse-Gaelic mercenaries known as Gallowglasses who lived along with the [...]

Doe Castle, Cresslough. County Donegal c.1500 emmet2023-05-04T21:04:20+00:00

Ardee Castle, Ardee. County Louth c.15th century

emmet2023-07-30T06:39:22+00:00

The largest medieval tower house in Ireland The first castle recorded in Ardee was built by Roger de Peppard in 1207. This was to defend the strategic location between the lands of the [...]

Ardee Castle, Ardee. County Louth c.15th centuryemmet2023-07-30T06:39:22+00:00

Dalkey Castle and Heritage Centre, Dalkey. County Dublin 1550

emmet2024-10-21T15:38:11+00:00

First-class museum in one of Ireland's prettiest villages The picturesque village of Dalkey was once Dublin's most important medieval port. This area was also at the outer edge of The Pale and so [...]

Dalkey Castle and Heritage Centre, Dalkey. County Dublin 1550emmet2024-10-21T15:38:11+00:00

Cloonacauneen Castle, Cloonacaueen. County Galway 1550

emmet2023-05-08T20:59:17+00:00

A wedding venue fit for a King Cloonacauneen Castle is a stunning 15th-century tower house situated on the outskirts of Galway City. Unusually, the majority of Cloonacaueen's owners have been recorded since 1574, [...]

Cloonacauneen Castle, Cloonacaueen. County Galway 1550emmet2023-05-08T20:59:17+00:00

Aughnanure Castle, Oughterard, County Galway c.15th

emmet2023-05-08T21:02:20+00:00

One of Ireland's finest examples of a Gaelic fortified tower house Aughnanure Castle is considered to be one of the grandest fortified tower houses in Ireland and is one of 200 built-in county [...]

Aughnanure Castle, Oughterard, County Galway c.15th emmet2023-05-08T21:02:20+00:00

Knappogue Castle, Quin. County Clare 1467

emmet2024-03-09T12:20:20+00:00

A magnificent tower house with a fab distillery Knappogue Castle was built in 1467 by Sean MacNamara. Besides a brief confiscation during Cromwell’s Parliament, it remained in the MacNamara's ownership until 1800. It was [...]

Knappogue Castle, Quin. County Clare 1467 emmet2024-03-09T12:20:20+00:00