Historic Irish Castle

Make sure when you visit Ireland to make time to choose your favourite historic Irish castle. The progress of architecture on the island can be traced through the development of fortifications begun by the Norman invaders of the 11th century, to the expensive follies of the late nineteenth century.

Not every historic Irish castle has been left intact: weather, neglect and military interest have all played a part in the dramatic appearance of many of the ruined towers and castle dwellings throughout some of the bleakest stretches of Irish countryside.

Few castle ruins so readily engage the imagination as the picturesquely sited Monea in Fermanagh - undoubtedly the most complete and best-preserved of all the Plantation castles of Ulster. Building commenced in 1616 by the Rector of Devenish, the Reverend Malcolm Hamilton. Shortly afterwards, in 1619, it was described by Pynnar as "a strong castle of lime and stone being 54 feet long and 20 feet broad". The bawn, comprising "a wall 9 feet in height and 300 feet in circuit" was added shortly before Hamilton was promoted to become Archbishop of Cashel in 1623.

Those historic Irish castles which have survived have in many cases become extremely large family homes, hotels, museums and heritage centres.

No visit to Ireland would be complete without a sighting of a lonely ruin on a windswept hillside, but make sure to take in as many historic Irish castles as your interary allows.

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