Castle in County Dublin

Puck's Castle is a ruined tower house located in the townland of Rathmichael, in County Dublin, Ireland, situated in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains near the village of Shankill. Despite its whimsical name, it is a genuine medieval structure, a modest but atmospheric remnant of the Anglo-Norman and late medieval settlement of the region. The castle sits close to the eastern seaboard corridor that has been inhabited and contested for centuries, and while it does not rank among Ireland's great showpiece ruins, it carries a quiet, genuine historical weight that rewards those who seek it out. Its name, "Puck's Castle," is one that fires the imagination, and the ruin has attracted local curiosity and affection for generations, making it a worthwhile destination for walkers, history enthusiasts, and those drawn to the melancholy beauty of overgrown stonework. The origins of the structure are rooted in the medieval period, most likely the fifteenth or sixteenth century, when tower houses of this type proliferated across Leinster as the Anglo-Norman and Old English communities consolidated their landholdings. The building is generally attributed to the La Touche family, or possibly earlier occupants, though documentary evidence is fragmentary. The Rathmichael area itself has deep historical roots stretching back far earlier, with an early Christian site nearby at Rathmichael Church suggesting continuous habitation and spiritual significance long before the tower house was erected. As for the name, there is no definitive historical explanation. Local tradition associates it with "Puck," the mischievous supernatural figure of Irish and broader British folklore, and the isolated, overgrown character of the ruin lends itself naturally to such associations. Whether the name derives from a former owner's nickname, a corruption of an older Irish placename, or genuine folk belief in fairy or sprite activity around the site remains open to debate, and this ambiguity is part of its charm. Physically, Puck's Castle presents itself as a relatively small, roofless tower house, its walls surviving to a respectable height on some sides while having partially collapsed on others. The masonry is of roughly cut local stone, now heavily mottled with lichen in shades of grey, silver, and pale orange, giving the walls a textured, almost painterly quality in certain lights. Ivy and other vegetation have colonised the stonework extensively, softening the outline and blending the structure into the surrounding woodland and scrub. The interior, open to the sky, is carpeted with grass and fallen debris, and the ground underfoot can be damp and uneven. On still days the place is deeply quiet, with birdsong carrying clearly through the trees, while on windier days the branches overhead create a persistent rustling that enhances the ruin's otherworldly atmosphere. The scale is intimate rather than grand, and standing close to the walls one becomes very aware of the thickness and solidity of the medieval construction despite centuries of neglect. The surrounding landscape is that of the transition zone between the south County Dublin suburbs and the lower Dublin Mountains, a territory of mixed woodland, farmland, and encroaching residential development. The ruin is approached through semi-rural terrain, and the hills rising to the west provide a backdrop that contextualises the site within a broader historic landscape. Nearby, the ancient graveyard and church ruin at Rathmichael are well worth visiting in conjunction with Puck's Castle, as they speak to the long continuity of settlement in this corner of County Dublin. The coastal town of Shankill is a short distance to the east, and Bray, the larger seaside town in County Wicklow, is easily accessible. The area forms part of the broader hinterland explored by walkers using the Dublin Mountains Way and related trails, meaning Puck's Castle can be incorporated into a longer day out in the hills. For those planning a visit, the site is accessible on foot and does not charge an entrance fee, as it is an unmanaged open-air ruin rather than a maintained heritage attraction. Access is typically via lanes and paths off the Rathmichael Road, and the terrain can be muddy, so sturdy footwear is advisable. The ruin is not formally signposted in any substantial way, and visitors benefit from checking a detailed map or using GPS navigation before setting out, as the network of local roads can be confusing. There are no visitor facilities, no car park specifically serving the site, and no interpretation boards on location, so some prior reading is worthwhile to contextualise what one sees. Spring and summer offer the most pleasant conditions for visiting, when the vegetation is lush and the light lingers, though the ruin in autumn and winter takes on a starker, more dramatic appearance that appeals to photographers and those who enjoy the site at its most elemental. Given its proximity to Dublin city, the location is well-suited to a half-day excursion combined with exploration of other nearby heritage sites.

Howth Castle is set in floral gardens and grounds of over 250 acres near the village of Howth overlooking Dublin bay, 9 miles north of Dublin. Howth Castle is a series of irregular buildings, some castellated others not, with the appearance of having been added to in many different periods. In parts the castle is in good condition but some parts have been left and are in disrepair. The Martello Tower forms part of the collection of buildings, mainly from the 16th century. Within the grounds there are also a number of interesting features including a ruined square tower, Aideen's grave; a Neolithic tomb, the Deer Park hotel and golf course. Facilities The castle is the ancestral home of the Gaisford St. Lawrence family who are descendents of the Baron; later known as the Earls, of Howth and not open to the public. It is still possible to visit the grounds during the summer which are known for their beautiful collection of over 2,000 varieties of rhododendron. The grounds are also home to the National Transport Museum of Ireland and the fully restored Hill of Howth Tram along with tractors, trucks, fire engines and lorries can all be seen there. Howth Castle was built in 1464 and added to many times over history especially in the 16th and 18th centuries. Very little has been written about the castles history but one of the most notable events seems to be a visit from the Pirate Queen Grace O'Malley. During a trip to Dublin in 1576 she attempted to visit the 8th Baron Howth who was sitting down to dinner and therefore 'not available'. She was so angry that the gates were closed upon her that she chose to retaliate by abducting the young grandson of the Baron. He was finally released when a promise was made for the gates to always be open to unexpected visitors and for an extra place to be set at the table; a tradition which is said to still be honoured today. The Arts The book 'Finnegan's Wake' by James Boyce is based around Howth Castle and the surrounding area.

Monkstown Castle is a tower house ruin located in the townland of Monkstown, County Dublin, situated on the southern shore of Dublin Bay in what is today the affluent coastal suburb of Monkstown. The coordinates 53.28891, -6.15311 place it squarely within this well-known residential area, close to the seafront and the bustling village centre. The castle is one of several medieval tower houses that once dotted the coastline of south County Dublin, and it represents a tangible remnant of the medieval and early modern period in a landscape that has otherwise been almost entirely absorbed by suburban development. Though modest in scale compared to the great Anglo-Norman fortresses of the Irish midlands, Monkstown Castle carries genuine historical weight and offers visitors a striking visual counterpoint to the Georgian and Victorian architecture that defines much of the surrounding neighbourhood. The origins of Monkstown Castle are rooted in the medieval period, with the structure most commonly associated with the Chevers family, a powerful Anglo-Norman dynasty who held lands in this part of County Dublin during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The name "Monkstown" itself is widely believed to derive from an earlier monastic connection, with local tradition holding that monks from St Mary's Abbey in Dublin once held lands or a grange in the area, though documentary evidence for this is somewhat sparse and contested. The tower house that survives today is thought to date largely from the fifteenth or sixteenth century, consistent with the general flowering of tower house construction across Ireland during that era. It is a structure that speaks to the layered and often turbulent history of the Pale — that zone of English-controlled territory around Dublin — where local lords built defensible residences to protect themselves and their tenants in an era of persistent raiding and political instability. Physically, the surviving structure is a compact rectangular tower built from local limestone rubble, rising to a height that, while reduced from its original form, still commands a certain presence above the surrounding streetscape. The walls are thick and robust in the manner typical of Irish tower houses, and the stonework, though weathered and in places somewhat eroded, retains the satisfying texture of genuinely old construction. Visitors approaching on foot will notice how the ruin sits in close proximity to a later and more intact structure — Monkstown Castle is sometimes conflated in local usage with a later fortified house nearby, and there has historically been some confusion in descriptions of the site. The atmosphere around the ruins is one of quiet incongruity: ancient stone standing amid parked cars, garden walls, and the noise of a busy modern village, which in its own way makes the survival of the structure all the more remarkable. The surrounding area of Monkstown is one of the most attractive and prosperous suburbs on Dublin's south coast, forming part of the so-called Riviera of Dublin Bay along with Dún Laoghaire, Dalkey, and Killiney. The seafront promenade is only a short walk away, offering sweeping views across the bay toward the Howth peninsula to the north and the broad sweep of water toward the Irish Sea. Dún Laoghaire, with its famous Victorian piers, its ferry terminal, and its lively mix of cafés, restaurants, and cultural venues including the Lexicon library, lies just a kilometre or so to the north. The DART coastal railway line serves both Monkstown and Seapoint stations nearby, making the area extremely accessible from Dublin city centre. The combination of coastline, period architecture, good food and drink, and historical interest makes this a rewarding destination for a half-day excursion from the capital. For visitors hoping to see Monkstown Castle, the experience is essentially that of an exterior viewing, as the structure is not open to the public in a formal heritage-site sense and does not have the infrastructure of a managed visitor attraction. The ruins are visible from the public road and can be appreciated from the street, which is itself an interesting part of the historic village core. The best time to visit is during daylight hours in spring, summer, or early autumn, when the light off Dublin Bay is at its most pleasant and the village itself is at its most lively. Those with a deeper interest in the medieval heritage of south County Dublin would do well to combine a visit here with excursions to Dalkey Castle, which is a much more fully preserved and interpreted example of a Dublin tower house, and to the various other historical sites scattered along this stretch of coastline. Access is straightforward by DART to Seapoint or Salthill and Monkstown stations, or by bus from the city centre, and parking is available locally though it can be limited during busy periods. One of the more intriguing aspects of Monkstown's historical landscape is precisely this layering of periods and purposes that the castle embodies. The Pale was a world of negotiation between Gaelic Irish culture and the culture of the English crown, and the tower houses built along its edges were expressions of a particular kind of local power — not the grand display of a distant monarch, but the pragmatic defensiveness of a family trying to hold onto land and status in uncertain times. That such a structure survives at all within what is now a dense suburban environment is partly a matter of luck and partly a reflection of the way Irish communities have gradually come to value their built heritage more consciously. Monkstown Castle may not be the most dramatic or best-preserved medieval site in Ireland, but for the curious visitor willing to look past the everyday texture of the village around it, it offers a genuine and thought-provoking connection to a world that has otherwise largely vanished from this corner of County Dublin.

Ashtown Castle is found in Phoenix Park in the north west of Dublin. Ashtown Castle is a fully restored fortified Medieval four-storey tower house thought to have been constructed in the 17th century. Restoration and survey work carried out in 1989 revealed alterations made in the 18th and 19th centuries which included Georgian windows, new flooring and work to part of the roof. Facilities The Castle is incorporated into the Phoenix Park and the visitor centre has detailed information not only about the castle but the surrounding deer park and gardens. From here you can arrange a guided visit of the castle and although the castle does not have its own tearoom or restaurant, one can be found in the grounds of the visitor centre. Entry is free and the castle and grounds are open November to March, Wednesday - Sunday, 09:30 to 17:30 and April to October, Daily 10:00 to 17:45. Ashtown Castle was not 'discovered' until 1978 when it was found within the walls of a much larger more recent building that was being demolished. In 1641 the castle was owned by John Connell or 'John of Ashtown' as he was known. The estate was then 200 acres laid down to arable and pasture land with a small area of woodland, there was also a small orchard and two thatched cottages on the estate. The castle was built to dimensions laid down by the government of the time where money was offered to those who built a castle to defend themselves. In 1668 Marcus Trevor, Viscount Dungannon along with two keepers were the residents of Ashford. The castle had been acquired by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland on behalf of the King to extend his deer park. Around 1774 Ashtown Lodge was incorporated into the castle and the new building was then classified as the official residence of the Under Secretary from 1782. A series of tunnels is believed to have run from the lodge to other important buildings within the park where people could travel unseen and safely. The next resident was Papal Nuncio who resided in the lodge until 1978 when he left for a new residence in Dublin. The Arts Ashtown has been used a backdrop for some very famous artists such as Coldplay, Robbie Williams and U2.

Clontarf Castle is situated 2 miles north of Dublin in the suburbs of the city. The 1830's building is a mixture of old castle and modern building rolled into one. Built of grey stone and glass with a crenellated tower and the addition of large wings. Most of the estate and its buildings have been sold, but the castle still has the ornamental gatehouse. Facilities Clontarf Castle is now privately owned and is part of a collection of luxury boutique hotels. The 111 bedrooms are equipped with modern comforts and even more luxurious are executive rooms with four poster beds. The hotel has three restaurants and bars in traditional castle style surroundings. The hotel can host civil wedding ceremonies as well as providing facilities for after wedding receptions. The current castle dates back to 1837, but there was a previous castle on the site in 1172. Built by Hugh de Lacy it was home to the Knights Templar; famous for fighting in the Crusades. The castle passed to the Knights Hospitaller in 1308 and then to Viscount Clontarf; who in turn surrendered the castle to the King. The secretary of state for Ireland; Sir Geoffrey Fenton, was granted the estate in 1600 by Queen Elizabeth I. Through his descendents the castle passed into the King family from whom the lands were confiscated during the Irish Rebellion in 1641. The castle then changed hands several times after Cromwells conquest of Ireland, with the Vernon family being the longest inhabitants for over 300 years. In 1933 the castle was sold by the last remaining member of the Vernon family to the Oultons and was sold again in 1952 to pay death duties. In 1972 the castle was run as a cabaret venue for 25 years until it reopened in 1991 as a four star hotel. The Arts The castle has been host to many famous people especially musicians. Handel in 1742 as a guest of Dorothy Vernon and for whom he wrote 'Forest Music'. In 1971 the castle was also the subject of a song by Thin Lizzy entitled 'The Friendly Ranger at Clontarf Castle' and Dermot O'Brien; a famous accordionist, used the castle for live recordings. The castle was also the subject of a painting by Turner, although wrongly labeled Caltarf Castle. Dana was crowned Queen of Cabaret at Clontarf Castle in 1968 before winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1970.

Manderley Castle is situated on the outskirts of Killiney, 9 miles south of Dublin on the Irish coastline. It has wonderful views across the Dublin Bay all the way to Wales. Manderley Castle is a castellated Victorian style turreted mansion house built over three floors, surrounded by high walls and 3.5 acres of landscaped gardens and forested areas. Facilities The castle is the private home of Irish musician Enya and not open to the public. Manderley Castle was previously known as both Ayesha Castle and Victoria Castle. The original Victoria Castle was built by Robert Warren in 1840 to commemorate the acession to the thrown of Queen Victoria. The castle was built with a secret tunnel which led from the bottom of the garden down to Killiney Beach which has now been sealed up. The castle was restored in 1928 by Sir Thomas Power; the owner of the famous John's Lane Whiskey Distillery in Dublin, after the interior was very badly damaged by a fire. He also renamed the castle Ayesha Castle after the goddess in Rider Haggard's novel 'She' who rose from the flames. In 1995 the castle was turned into a gallery and craft room by the Aylmer family. They converted the stables and parts of the ground floor for exhibition space. The castle was put up for sale in 1997 and sold to the muscian Enya for 3.8 million euro. It was reported that she outbid another famous Irish celebrity Michael Flatley who also wanted to buy the castle. After its sale the castle was renamed for the third time to Manderley Castle after the name of the house featured in Daphne du Maurier's book 'Rebecca'. Since purchasing the castle Enya has made significant changes to the castle's boundaries and has reinforced many of the gates and walls. The height of the walls has been raised to 9 feet tall and in places has another 4 feet of railings on top. Despite the new fortifications Manderley has still been subject to two security breaches. The Arts The castle is owned by Irish musician Enya

Bremore Castle is a ruined tower house situated on the northern coastline of County Fingal, in the northeastern part of the Republic of Ireland, not far from the small coastal town of Balbriggan. Despite the database entry describing it as being in "Northwest Ireland," it is more accurately located in the northeast of the country, on the eastern seaboard close to the Irish Sea. The castle is a medieval fortification of considerable antiquity and local historical significance, representing one of the older surviving architectural remnants in the Fingal region. Though it stands in a state of ruin, it retains enough structural presence to convey a powerful sense of the past, and it forms part of a wider coastal heritage landscape that is largely underappreciated by visitors to Ireland who tend to bypass Fingal in favour of more celebrated destinations. The castle's origins are generally traced to the medieval period, with the tower house likely constructed during the fourteenth or fifteenth century, a time when such defensive structures were commonplace across Ireland, built by Anglo-Norman and Gaelic Irish lords alike to consolidate territorial control. The lands around Bremore were historically associated with the Barnwall family, an Anglo-Norman dynasty that held considerable sway in the Fingal area during the medieval period. The Barnwalls were prominent landowners across north County Dublin and were among the Old English families who maintained power in the Pale — the region of eastern Ireland most firmly under English control following the Norman invasion. Bremore itself sits within an ancient landscape, and the area around the castle includes early medieval ecclesiastical remains, suggesting that this coastal strip was an important site of habitation and spiritual significance long before the tower house was ever built. Physically, what remains of Bremore Castle is a modest but evocative tower house ruin, its stone walls darkened by centuries of exposure to salt air and Atlantic weather systems that sweep in from the Irish Sea. The masonry is constructed from local stone, and the remaining walls rise to a meaningful height even in their deteriorated state, giving the structure a brooding, solitary character against the open coastal sky. Ivy and other vegetation have taken hold in the joints and upper reaches of the stonework over the years, softening the ruin's outline and giving it that quintessentially romantic quality associated with Irish medieval remains. Standing close to it, one is aware of the sound of the sea — the rhythmic wash of waves is never far away — and the wind is a near-constant presence on this exposed headland, carrying the smell of brine and cut grass. The surrounding landscape is one of the castle's most compelling features. Bremore sits within a coastal headland area that also contains the remains of an early Christian cemetery and the site of a former church, lending the whole locality a layered, ancient atmosphere that extends well beyond the castle itself. The shoreline here is rocky and dramatic in places, with views stretching southward along the coast toward Balbriggan and its harbour, and northward toward the Mourne Mountains in County Down on clear days. The farmland that borders the site is typical of north County Fingal — flat to gently rolling, fertile ground that has been worked continuously for centuries. Balbriggan town, just a short distance to the south, offers shops, cafes, and transport links, while the wider Fingal coast includes other points of interest such as Skerries and its historic mills. For visitors considering a trip to Bremore Castle, the site is accessible on foot from Balbriggan, which itself is well served by the Dublin-Belfast railway line, making it straightforward to reach from Dublin city without a car. The coastal path and local road network allow walkers to reach the headland without great difficulty, though the terrain can be uneven and appropriate footwear is advisable. As the castle is a ruin on land that is not a formally managed heritage site with ticket booths or visitor infrastructure, those visiting should be respectful of any fencing or access restrictions that may be in place, and should check current local guidance before visiting. The best times to visit are during the drier months from late spring through early autumn, when the coastal scenery is at its most inviting and the days are long enough to make the most of the surrounding landscape. Early morning visits in particular reward those who make the effort, when the light on the Irish Sea is at its most beautiful and the headland is quietest. One of the more intriguing aspects of Bremore is how thoroughly it has slipped beneath the radar of mainstream Irish heritage tourism, despite being located within easy reach of a capital city of over a million people. The combination of the tower house ruin, the early Christian remains, and the dramatic coastal setting makes this a site that would, in many other countries, be extensively signposted and promoted. Instead, it remains a quietly kept local secret, visited mostly by walkers, local history enthusiasts, and those who take the time to look beyond the well-worn tourist trail. This relative obscurity is both a loss, in terms of broader public awareness of Fingal's rich medieval heritage, and a gift for those who do seek it out, since the experience of discovering Bremore Castle still carries something of the atmosphere of genuine discovery.

Ardgillan Castle is set between Skerries and Balbriggan, 20 miles north of Dublin, high on a cliff top overlooking Barnageera Beach and the Irish Sea. The restored Ardgillan Castle is better described as a large castellated country style house, set in the 200 acre Ardgillan Demense park with open spaces and woodland. The central section of the castle was built in 1738 and the wings added in the late 1700's. The grey stone castle is built over three stories; one being a basement, with lawns extending to the south. The grounds have a Rose garden as well as a walled herb garden and an ice house. Facilities There are guided tours of the ground floor rooms and kitchens, as with many big houses the basement area was used for the kitchen and store rooms with the main living accommodation occupying the other rooms. The former bedrooms are used an exhibition space for the 'Down Survey' maps and text. Ardgillan Castle has its own tearoom and is open year round (except the Christmas Holidays) Tuesday - Sunday 11:00 - 18:00, April to September and until 16:30 from October to March. During July and August the castle is open seven days a week when guided tours of the gardens are also available on Thursday afternoons. The 'Down Survey' (a census involving the mapping 'down' of land ownership in Ireland) records that Ardgillan was owned by a wine merchant from Dublin, Robert Usher in 1658. In 1737 the Reverend Robert Taylor re-built the castle and it remained in the family until 1962 when a German, Heinrick Potts bought the estate. In 1982 Dublin County Council purchased the castle and estate and today it is managed by Fingal Council. The Arts The castle has been used as the setting for summer concerts by artists such as Status Quo, Meatloaf, REM and Moby. Legends A ghost is said to haunt the bridge at the end of the garden where a woman died waiting for her husband to return from swimming in the sea on night. The tale also claims if you visit the bridge at midnight on Halloween her ghost throws you into the Irish sea to your death.

Tully's Castle, located at the coordinates 53.32081, -6.38995, corresponds to a site in the Clondalkin or Lucan area of County Dublin, on the western fringe of the greater Dublin metropolitan region. This area falls within the historic barony of Newcastle and Uppercross, a part of County Dublin that retains scattered medieval remnants amid its modern suburban development. The specific name "Tully's Castle" at this precise location is a vernacular or locally used designation, and the site likely refers to a tower house ruin or fortified structure characteristic of the Pale — the area of English colonial influence that surrounded medieval Dublin. Tower houses of this type were built in considerable numbers across the Pale from the fourteenth to the sixteenth centuries, typically by Anglo-Norman families or Gaelicised Norman dynasties who sought defensible residences on agricultural land. The broader Clondalkin and Newcastle district is historically rich, having been settled since early Christian times, with monastic foundations and later Anglo-Norman manorial systems leaving their mark on the landscape. The Pale, which Dublin's hinterland formed the core of, was peppered with small castle structures, many of which have been absorbed into farmland, demolished for building material, or survive only as overgrown stubs of masonry in fields. A site bearing the name Tully in this coordinate range would likely be associated with the townland of Tully, a common Irish placename derived from the Irish "tulach," meaning a small hill or mound — a name that itself often signals early medieval or even prehistoric significance to a location. It would not be surprising if occupation of this site predated the medieval castle structure by many centuries. In terms of its physical character, structures of this type in County Dublin's western suburban fringe are often modest in their surviving remains. Visitors to sites in this area frequently encounter ivy-draped masonry walls, perhaps to a height of several metres, standing in what may now be a residential neighbourhood, a field margin, or a small patch of protected green space. The stones used in construction would be local limestone and rubble, mortared in the manner typical of late medieval Irish vernacular architecture. If the tower house retains any height, arrow loops, vaulted ceilings, or corbelled features, these would be its most visually compelling details. The atmosphere around such sites in this part of Dublin tends to be one of quiet incongruity — ancient stonework coexisting with suburban housing estates and the sounds of modern traffic on nearby roads. The surrounding landscape at these coordinates places the site firmly in the zone where Dublin's urban sprawl meets the older agricultural land of County Dublin's western margins. The River Liffey is not far to the north, and the Dodder and other watercourses have historically shaped settlement patterns in this region. The area has undergone enormous transformation since the mid-twentieth century, with large residential developments having replaced much of what was once open farmland. Nevertheless, pockets of older character remain, and a site like this would potentially be managed, even if modestly, by a local authority or recorded on the National Monuments Service register. The proximity to Clondalkin, with its famous Round Tower — one of the finest and most complete in Ireland — means this part of Dublin is not without a genuine sense of layered historical depth for those willing to look carefully. I must be transparent with you here: while I have strong knowledge of the general area at these coordinates and the typology of sites that exist there, I am not able to confirm with complete certainty every specific historical detail about a site named "Tully's Castle" at exactly this location. The National Monuments Service of Ireland and the Historic Environment Viewer maintained by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are the most authoritative resources for precise records relating to protected structures and recorded monuments at this coordinate. I would strongly encourage cross-referencing this entry with those databases before publication, as local or vernacular castle names can sometimes attach to sites with slightly different official designations. Visiting is best done during daylight hours in spring or summer when vegetation is manageable; access may be via public roads in the Clondalkin or Rathcoole area, and the Luas Red Line to Clondalkin–Fonthill provides reasonable public transport access to the broader vicinity.

RMalahide Castle is in the town of Robswall overlooking the Broadmeadow Water, also known as Malahide estuary and only a ten minute walk from the coast road footpath which links Portmarnock and Malahide. King Henry II gifted Richard Talbot the lands and harbour of Malahide for his services to the crown in 1185. From that point on, the Talbot family became intertwined with Malahide’s history and development. The earliest believed stone fortress at Malahide was an Anglo-Norman tower house. From the 12th century onwards, this stronghold was continually expanded by the Talbot family. Rooms were modified, fortifications developed and many embellishments to the interior were added until the castle took on its current form.Facilities Robswall Castle is a private dwelling and not open to the public. The original tower was constructed over four floors was thought to have been built in the 15th century by the de Bermingham family. The castle is recorded as being the home of the Cistercian Monks of St Mary's Abbey. The castle's position at the entrance to the harbor ensured that the Monks were never without fish as the local fishermen always gave a donation when coming back into port. When the monasteries were dissolved by Henry VIII in 1540 the castle was granted to Patrick Barnwell, Solicitor General for Ireland. The castle was recorded in the 'Downs Survey'; so called because details of the properties were written down, as Roebuck's Wall and described as a thatched castle belonging to the Barnwalls of Turvey. It was after this time that one storey of the tower was removed.

Rathfarnham Castle is situated in the village of Rathfarnham 3 miles south of Dublin. The castle is a large white four storey Georgian house consisting of a square house with towers at each corner, it is set in formal gardens and on part of the estate visitors can see a Roman Triumphal Arch used as the grand entrance. Facilities The castle is undergoing a huge refurbishment programme but remains open to the public where visitors are able to witness conservation in action. The castle is open from May until October 9.30am to 5.30pm with the tearooms open all year. Rathfarnham Castle was originally a semi fortified castle built on the site of an earlier Anglo Norman castle in around 1583 for the Lord Chancellor of Ireland and the Archbishop of Dublin, Adam Loftus. During the confederate wars in the mid 1600's the castle changed hands many times and it is believed that Oliver Cromwell held council there during his campaign in Ireland. The Loftus family recovered the castle and in 1771 and Henry Loftus was created 1st Earl of Ely. In celebration the family constructed a Triumphal Arch and converted the medieval castle into a Georgian mansion house removing the battlements, enlarging the windows and adding a semi circular extension to the east of the castle. In 1812 the Loftus family moved to Loftus Hall in Wexford and leased the estate as a diary farm which fell into disrepair. In 1852 is was sold to Francis Blackburne the Lord Chancellor who's family resided there for three generations. In 1912 property developers purchased the house and estate and divided into three parts. The Castle was sold to a Jesuit Order, part of the estate was sold for housing and the other part was developed as a golf course. In 1985 the castle was in line for demolition and was sold to Delaware properties but after public pressure the state took over the building and it became a National Monument. Legends Legend has it that the ghost of a woman haunts the ballroom. Two suitors decided to incarcerate their loved one behind the ballroom's wooden paneling; the winner of the duel for her affection would set her free. Unfortunately both of them died and so she remained there for 130 years.

Swords Castle is a large medieval fortified enclosure located in the heart of Swords town, County Fingal, just north of Dublin city. It stands as one of the most significant and best-preserved examples of an archiepiscopal castle in Ireland, meaning it served not as a royal stronghold but as an official residence and administrative centre for the Archbishops of Dublin. This distinction makes it genuinely unusual among Irish medieval fortifications, and it gives the site a particular character — more palatial and ecclesiastical in atmosphere than militaristic. The castle is a scheduled National Monument and has undergone substantial conservation and restoration work in recent decades, making it increasingly accessible and interpretable for visitors who might otherwise walk past without grasping its remarkable pedigree. The origins of Swords Castle date to around 1200, when it was constructed under the direction of John de Comyn, the first Anglo-Norman Archbishop of Dublin. De Comyn had been appointed to the archbishopric by Henry II in 1181, and the construction of a suitable residence near the ancient ecclesiastical settlement of Swords — which had deep associations with St Columba and St Finian dating back to the sixth century — was a statement of both spiritual authority and political power. The site was developed and expanded over the following centuries by successive archbishops, most notably Henry de Loundres in the early thirteenth century, who undertook significant building works. Edward Bruce, brother of the Scottish king Robert the Bruce, is believed to have stayed at Swords Castle in 1317 during his ultimately ill-fated campaign to become High King of Ireland, giving the site a fleeting but vivid connection to the pan-Gaelic politics of that turbulent era. By the late medieval period the castle had fallen out of regular use by the archbishops, and it passed through various hands before slowly declining into picturesque ruin. Physically, Swords Castle presents itself as a large irregular pentagonal enclosure surrounded by a curtain wall that runs to an impressive height in many sections. The wall encloses an area of roughly one acre and incorporates several towers, a gatehouse, a chapel, and the remains of a great hall and residential buildings. The gatehouse, which faces onto the main street of Swords, is particularly striking — a substantial structure with a pointed Gothic arch that frames visitors as they enter and gives a sense of the castle's former gravitas. The chapel, dating to the thirteenth century, retains much of its original stonework and has a quiet, dignified presence that rewards close attention. Standing inside the enclosure, one is struck by the contrast between the grey limestone walls, softened by moss and lichen, and the open sky above. On a clear day the space feels unexpectedly airy and almost garden-like, while on an overcast Irish afternoon the walls close in and the atmosphere becomes genuinely medieval. Swords itself is a busy, well-established town in County Fingal with a population that has grown considerably due to its proximity to Dublin Airport and the expanding northern suburbs of the capital. The castle sits almost incongruously in the middle of this busy modern town, directly beside a public park and within easy walking distance of shops, cafes and transport links. A short distance away stands the Round Tower and the site of the early Christian monastery associated with St Columba, reinforcing the sense that Swords has been a place of importance for well over a thousand years. The surrounding Fingal landscape, while largely suburban, opens out to the north and west into more agricultural countryside, and the coast of north County Dublin with its beaches and fishing villages is only a short drive away. Visiting Swords Castle is a straightforward and largely free experience, as the enclosure is managed by Fingal County Council and admission to the grounds is generally open to the public, with guided tours and heritage events offered on various occasions throughout the year. The castle is easily reached by Dublin Bus services from the city centre, and Swords is also served by the Aircoach and is close to the M1 motorway for those travelling by car. The town centre location means parking requires some planning, but the castle itself is highly walkable from most local transport stops. The best time to visit is arguably late spring or summer when the light is generous and the stonework glows warmly, though the castle has a particular brooding beauty in autumn and winter when visitor numbers are lower and the atmosphere feels more authentically ancient. One of the more fascinating and lesser-known aspects of Swords Castle is the evidence it provides for the sophisticated administrative machinery of the medieval church in Ireland. Unlike purely military castles, an archiepiscopal residence needed to function as a place of hospitality, justice, record-keeping and ceremony, and the diversity of buildings within the enclosure reflects these complex needs. The presence of a private chapel within the walls is a reminder that even the most powerful clerics of medieval Ireland kept their devotional and their political lives in close physical proximity. There is also something quietly poignant about the way the castle has been absorbed into the fabric of a modern Irish town — it is neither a remote romantic ruin nor a heavily managed heritage attraction, but something in between: a real, breathing part of a living community, still finding its feet as a place where the past and present speak to each other with unusual directness.

Dublin Castle is in the heart of the city set on a high ridge on the south side of the River Liffey. The Dublin Castle complex occupies a vast area and is totally restored. The buildings were all added at different times and range from Medieval to Georgian and from bare stone to fine plasterwork. Set around the gardens and courtyards are the State Apartments, Library, Norman Tower, Chapel Royal and Coach House. Behind are the Bedford Tower and Treasury Building, the oldest office block in Ireland. Facilities The main areas for tourists to visit are the State Apartments, Undercroft, Garda (police) Museum; famous because it is housed in the last intact medieval tower in Dublin and perhaps one of the most interesting parts of the castle the Revenue Museum, situated in the Crypt of the Chapel Royal. Entry to the grounds is free and there are also guided tours available Monday to Friday, 10:00 - 16:45, Weekends/Holidays 14:00 to 16:45. The Garda and Revenue museums are open Monday - Friday 10:00 - 16:00. The gift shop and restaurant are open daily. The first stone castle was completed by King John of England in 1230 on the site of the original Viking fortress. Originally built as a military fortress and prison it later held the Royal Treasury and Mint, Law Courts and was the home of the English Administration in Ireland for 700 years until the Great Hall was burnt down in the fire of April 1684. Only by blowing up nearby buildings were the flames stopped from reaching the gunpowder stored in the Powder Tower, unfortunately much of the medieval castle was destroyed. The castle was one of the main targets in the Easter Rising of 1916 which concluded in December 1921 with the signing of the Anglo-Irish treaty when Ireland became a free state and Dublin Castle was handed over to the Irish Government. The castle was re-built and added to in the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th Centuries, it is now predominantly Georgian which includes the State apartments renovated in 1746 and are today used to host functions for European Union delegates. The Arts The castle has been used for films such as Becoming Jane and The Medallion as well as for the television series The Tudors.