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- Carrigadrohid Castle, County Cork. There are strong Game of Thrones® vibes from this 16th century tower house sitting on a rock in the River Lee in County Cork.
- Castle Roche, County Louth. Who doesn’t love a castle with a ghastly ghost story attached? In the case of Castle Roche in Ireland's Ancient East, the ghastly part comes from Lady Rohesia de Verdun and the ghost is her bridegroom whom she pushed out a window of the castle on their wedding night.
- Dunluce Castle, County Antrim. Dunluce Castle, former home to the Earls of Antrim, has everything you could ask from romantic castle ruins in Ireland.
- Glenarm Castle, County Antrim. Want to know where the Earls of Antrim live now? It’s here, in the much more civilised surroundings of Glenarm Castle. Famous for its walled garden, tulip festival and being one of the few country estates on the island still in private ownership, Glenarm is open to the public with guided tours led by George, the castle’s butler.
- Ashford Castle—The Best of The Best
- Blarney Castle—You Won’T Stop Talking About It!
- Bunratty Castle—A Great Family Day Out
- Leap Castle—A Haunting Experience
- Kilkenny Castle—A Fascinating History
- King John’s Castle—A Great Castle in Every Sense
- Malahide Castle—A Magnificent Fortress
- The Rock of Cashel—A Thousand Years of History
- Birr Castle—See The Great Leviathan Telescope
- Dunguaire Castle—On The Shores of Galway Bay
Ask a local where to find Ashford Castle and some would say Mayo, others might say Galway. In a delightful irony, both are correct. The castle is located in Co. Galway while the tea rooms, lodge, and much of the extensive grounds are in Co. Mayo. Furthermore, in another peculiar twist, you cannot reach the castle—which is in Co. Galway—without trav...
Just under five miles from Cork City, this historic castle is a world landmark and has a fascinating 900-year history. It is most famous for its Blarney Stone which, according to legend, has the magical power of conferring eloquence upon all those who bestow a kiss. The gardens are some of the most visited in Ireland. Wander the prehistoric Fern Ga...
Bunratty Castle, together with its amazing interactive folk museum, is a great place for the whole family to visit. The castle, once a ruin but now fully restored, is a superb example of a 15th-century tower house. Built in 1425 by the powerful MacNamara family on ancient ruins, this one-time home saw many battles and skirmishes in its long history...
Who wouldn’t want to visit a haunted castle, and perhaps experience a ghostly encounter or two? Well, there is every chance you’ll do just that at Leap Castle because this is reputedly the most haunted castle in Ireland, but see 7 (Malahide Castle) below. You will understand why when you discover its brutal past, not to mention the oubliette used b...
Stunning Kilkenny Castle was built in the early 12th century for the powerful Butler family. It was strategically located above a ford on the River Nore and the junction of several roads. Take a tour and step back in time to learn the castle’s fascinating history, and discover what it was like to actually live here. A dedicated tour route ensures y...
If the name sounds familiar, that’s because bad King John (think Magna Carta) was the younger brother of Richard the Lionheart (who really wasn’t much better), famous for fighting in the Crusades—only to be captured for ransom on his way home. John came to Ireland in 1210 at the head of an army to crush the local chieftains and quell the troublesom...
Malahide castle also claims the title of ‘most haunted’ in Ireland, but see 3 (Leap Castle) above—they can’t both be right, but when it comes to ghosts; who’s counting. It is said to be haunted by an eerie “lady in white” and other spooky spirits. The castle, standing on 260 acres, dates back to King Henry II who gave it to Richard Talbot as a rewa...
With a thousand years of history this impressive cluster of medieval structures is one of Ireland’s greatest, and most visited, tourist attractions. It was here in the 5th century that St Patrick converted Aenghus, the King of Munster, to Christianity. In 978 Brian Boru was crowned High King and made Cashel his capital. In 1101 the site was granted...
Not just a well-preserved Gothic-style castle with 800 years of history waiting to tell you its story, but 120-acres of award-winning gardens and beautiful parklands to enjoy. Since the 7th Earl of Rosse still lives here, only parts may be open to the public. You will also see an enormous reflecting telescope, ‘The Leviathan’—once the biggest in th...
There could hardly be a better location for this 16th century fortified tower house perched on a tiny promontory on the shores of Galway Bay. It was once owned by Oliver St. John Gogarty, the inspiration for Buck Mulligan in James Joyce’s novel Ulysses. Today you may visit the castle, even book in for a medieval-style banquet—a sumptuous four-cours...
Mar 20, 2015 · In Ireland everyone needed a castle. Here we roundup our favourite castles in Ireland for a UK family break from Lismore, Ballybur, Ballyfin and Ballyportry.
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- Antrim – Dunluce Castle. This romantic seaside castle has a lot of character and is surrounded by stunning scenery. Address: 87 Dunluce Rd, Bushmills BT57 8UY.
- Armagh – Gosford Castle. Gosford Castle is a 19-century country house that is said to be Ulster’s largest building. Address: 2b South Stable Yard, Mullabrack Road, Markethill BT60 2HP.
- Carlow – Huntington Castle. Huntington Castle has a history that dates back to the 1600s and offers tours of its outstanding house and gardens. Address: Huntington, Co.
- Cavan – Cabra Castle. Cabra Castle is a castle that you can spend a night in as it is also a breathtaking 4-star hotel. Address: Carrickmacross Rd, Mullantra, Kingscourt, Co.
- Ashford Castle, County Mayo. A contender for Ireland’s finest hotel is the 19th-century regal hunting and fishing lodge created by Arthur Guinness (of stout fame) out of a castle first built in 1228 as the seat of the de Burgo family.
- Blarney Castle, County Cork. Proof of the power of a good yarn, crowds flock to this 15th-century castle to kiss the Blarney Stone, which supposedly gives one the gift of gab.
- Carrickfergus Castle, County Antrim. Ireland’s most impressive Norman castle is also one of its oldest: established in 1177 by John de Courcy right after he invaded Ulster, it remains the best preserved medieval structure in Ireland – despite being besieged in turn by the Scots, Irish, English and the French.
- Dunluce Castle, County Antrim. Location-wise, Dunluce is breathtaking – a ruined castle perched on a stone crag overlooking the sea. It was built in the early 16th century by the McQuillan family before it was seized in 1550 by the MacDonnell clan, who later took on the title of earls of Antrim.
Jan 1, 2021 · 1. Blarney Castle, County Cork. One of Ireland’s most popular attractions is Blarney Castle. It was built nearly six hundred years ago by Cormac MacCarthy, one of Ireland’s greatest chieftains. Surrounding the castle are extensive gardens.
Oct 21, 2021 · 1. Dublin Castle. 2. Trim Castle. 3. Dunluce Castle. 4. Bunratty Castle. 5. Enniskillen Castle. 6. Cahir Castle. 7. Dromoland Castle. 8. Castle Ward. 9. Dunamase Castle. 10. Glenveagh Castle. 11. Birr Castle. 12. Blarney Castle. 13. Kylemore Castle. 14.
