Irish Castles  

All about historic  
castles in Ireland  

Featured  
Castles  

Monea Castle  
Newtown Tower  


and many more

Irish Castles - a guide to castles in Ireland

Irish castles - ancient, crumbling ruins, medieval tower houses and spruced up façades are a testimony to the country's turbulent history. The earliest were built by the Anglo-Normans to consolidate their hold on conquered territories. Many were large constructions, reflecting the enormous wealth and power of the barons. With the collapse of central authority in the fourteenth century and resurgence of Gaelic chiefs, dimensions shrank, while numbers increased dramatically. Every landed gentleman needed a stronghouse for his own security. Consequently, one of the most ubiquitous historic monuments of the Irish countryside are the tower houses that the minor gentry built for themselves from 1400 until 1640. The widespread use of artillery during the 1641 Rebellion made such constructs redundant (tower houses and small castles in open countryside could be easily surrounded, and attacked). There are fine Renaissance examples in County Cork and County Tipperary.

This guide provides information on a selection of fortifications in Ireland both accessible and worth visiting. Listed alphabetically on an all-lreland county basis, opening times and directions are given at the end of each entry, as well as the map references. Go to the guide to historic Irish Castles.