Fortified Tower Houses - CURIOUS IRELAND

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

Clonmines, Bannow Bay. County Wexford c.14th-c.16th centuries

emmet2023-05-09T11:11:02+00:00

Ireland's best-preserved medieval town Clonmines was established in the 13th century by the great Norman knight William Marshall as an alternative port to New Ross. The remains of this once considerable town include [...]

Clonmines, Bannow Bay. County Wexford c.14th-c.16th centuriesemmet2023-05-09T11:11:02+00:00

Roscrea Castle & Damer House, Roscrea. County Tipperary 1281 & 1703

emmet2023-08-02T15:11:42+00:00

Ireland's most impressive historical courtyard Roscrea is a historic town where you can find the remains of a round tower, a High Cross, and an ancient church. You can also see this impressive [...]

Roscrea Castle & Damer House, Roscrea. County Tipperary 1281 & 1703emmet2023-08-02T15:11:42+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

O’Dohertys Keep, Buncrana. County Donegal c.13th or c.16th?

emmet2024-03-10T18:32:37+00:00

Keep it secret This little building is locally known as 'O'Doherty's Keep'. It resembles a 15th-century fortified tower house but recent excavations revealed that it may possibly be a corner tower of an [...]

O’Dohertys Keep, Buncrana. County Donegal c.13th or c.16th?emmet2024-03-10T18:32:37+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

Puck’s Castle, Shankill. County Dublin 1500

emmet2023-07-30T05:47:56+00:00

Beware of The Pooka Pucks Castle is one of a number of fortified castles built around the mid-1400s to defend the perimeter of Dublin. Other castles along the pale in this area include [...]

Puck’s Castle, Shankill. County Dublin 1500emmet2023-07-30T05:47:56+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

Monkstown Castle, Monkstown. County Dublin b.14th -15th centuries

emmet2024-10-21T21:29:28+00:00

Once one of Dublin's finest residences Monkstown Castle has been owned and occupied by some of the most prominent people and establishments in Irish History. This was once the the centre of a [...]

Monkstown Castle, Monkstown. County Dublin b.14th -15th centuriesemmet2024-10-21T21:29:28+00:00

Slade Castle, Slade Village. County Wexford c.1480

emmet2023-05-09T14:20:27+00:00

A castle once converted into tenements Slade Castle was built by the Laffin family in the late 1400s in a charming little fishing port. The Laffins were among the first wave of Anglo-Norman [...]

Slade Castle, Slade Village. County Wexford c.1480emmet2023-05-09T14:20:27+00:00

Donegal Castle, Donegal Town, County Donegal 15th-17th centuries

emmet2024-10-13T19:56:46+00:00

Once the stronghold of the O'Donnells Donegal Castle was built by the O'Donnell Clan around 1470. It stayed in their hands until 1607 when many Irish chieftains including Red Hugh O'Donnell fled Ireland [...]

Donegal Castle, Donegal Town, County Donegal 15th-17th centuries emmet2024-10-13T19:56:46+00:00

Dunsoghly Castle, St Margaret’s, North County Dublin 1490

emmet2024-10-21T15:13:39+00:00

The only castle in Ireland with its original roof Dunsoglhy Castle is located on private land near the end of Dublin Airport's runway. It was built by Sir Thomas Plunkett whose family was [...]

Dunsoghly Castle, St Margaret’s, North County Dublin 1490 emmet2024-10-21T15:13:39+00:00

Kilkea Castle, Castledermot. County Kildare 1426

emmet2023-08-02T15:14:45+00:00

The Fitzgeralds & The Wizard Earl This was originally the site of a motte and bailey built by Sir Walter de Riddlesford in 1181. His granddaughter married Maurice Fitzgerald, and so The Manor [...]

Kilkea Castle, Castledermot. County Kildare 1426 emmet2023-08-02T15:14:45+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

Bective Abbey, Bective. County Meath 1147

emmet2023-07-30T05:50:01+00:00

Braveheart movie location Bective Abbey is set beside a lovely old bridge on the River Boyne. It was founded in 1147 by the King of Meath and was the second Cistercian abbey built [...]

Bective Abbey, Bective. County Meath 1147 emmet2023-07-30T05:50:01+00:00

Taaffe’s Castle, Carlingford. County Louth 1520

emmet2023-07-30T05:50:13+00:00

Once one of the most important trading ports in Ireland Taaffe's Castle was built around 1520 as a fortified townhouse and trading depot for the Taaffe family. Between the 14th and 16th centuries, [...]

Taaffe’s Castle, Carlingford. County Louth 1520emmet2023-07-30T05:50:13+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

Baldongan Castle, Baldongan. North County Dublin c.13th-c.15th

emmet2023-07-30T05:51:09+00:00

A fortified church & The scene of 200 murders The Knights Templars built the first church here in the 13th century. It was later fortified and became the property of the De Birmingham [...]

Baldongan Castle, Baldongan. North County Dublin c.13th-c.15themmet2023-07-30T05:51:09+00:00

St Macculin’s Church & Round Tower, Lusk. North County Dublin built c.9th to c.19th

emmet2023-10-05T15:34:32+00:00

1000-year-old eclectic church St Macculin's Church is an interesting building that comprises a 9th-century round tower, a 15th-century defensive tower, and a 19th-century church. Lusk derives its name from the Irish word 'lusca' [...]

St Macculin’s Church & Round Tower, Lusk. North County Dublin built c.9th to c.19themmet2023-10-05T15:34:32+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

Kilgobbin Castle, Stepaside. South County Dublin 1476

emmet2023-07-30T05:51:55+00:00

A spooky castle on the border of the Pale Kilgobbin Castle was built by the Walshe Family in 1476. The Walshes were 'marcher lords' and controlled extensive tracts of land and castles in [...]

Kilgobbin Castle, Stepaside. South County Dublin 1476 emmet2023-07-30T05:51:55+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