Ireland’s most photogenic castle

Dunguaire Castle is named after the 7th King Guaire of Connaught and was built in 1520 by the Hynes Clan of Galway. In the 17th century, the castle was passed onto the Martyn clan of Galway who remained there for 300 years. In 1924. Oliver St. John Gogarty, a well-known surgeon, and writer bought and restored the castle and made it a meeting place for literary greats like George Bernard Shaw, Lady Gregory, J.M Synge, and W.B. Yeats.  It was then acquired by Lady Ampthill in 1954 who completed the restoration. There is a famous story of generosity attached to the castle…King Guaire had helped a poor beggar during his life. When the King died, the beggar visited the grave and said the words ‘you cannot help me now?’. Undeterred by death, the king’s skeletal hand dropped several gold coins at the beggar’s feet and according to legend, if a person stands at the front gate and asks a question, they will have the answer by the end of the day!