Historic Places in County Kerry

Aghadoe stands on a hilltop west of Killarney in County Kerry with panoramic views across the Lower Lake and MacGillycuddy's Reeks. The site preserves the lower courses of a round tower, a carved Romanesque doorway, and the ruins of a medieval cathedral associated with the bishopric of Ardfert and Aghadoe. Round towers served as bell towers, treasuries and places of refuge for monastic communities from the ninth to twelfth centuries. The hilltop position commanding the Lakes of Killarney National Park has attracted artists and travellers for over two centuries and remains one of the finest viewpoints in Kerry.

Ballinskelligs Castle occupies one of the most dramatically exposed positions of any castle on Ireland's Atlantic coast. Built on a narrow coastal promontory in County Kerry, the ruin stands beside the sea with open views across Ballinskelligs Bay toward the Skellig Islands on the horizon, and its location immediately explains why it was placed here. This was a castle tied not merely to land but to maritime movement and control, guarding a small but useful harbour in a region where seaborne traffic, weather and the threat of attack from the sea were constant considerations. The castle is commonly associated with the McCarthy Mór dynasty and dates from the sixteenth century. The McCarthy lords were the dominant Gaelic power in much of Munster during this period and the castles and tower houses they built or controlled along the Kerry coastline reflect both their resources and the strategic importance they placed on controlling Atlantic anchorages. Piracy, raiding and the movement of goods between Ireland, the Iberian Peninsula and Britain were all features of the maritime world these coastal castles inhabited, and a fortified tower beside a harbour served a practical defensive role that was entirely distinct from the land-based authority of more inland tower houses. One of the most memorable aspects of Ballinskelligs is the way ruin and natural setting work together to create an atmosphere of considerable power. The stone shell, battered by Atlantic conditions and softened by lichen and centuries of weathering, feels inseparable from the coastline around it. Unlike castles enclosed within later town development or estate gardens, this one is animated by sea light, wind and the perpetual movement of the Atlantic, and it often feels less like an isolated monument than a natural feature of the shoreline itself. Ballinskelligs Castle is especially compelling because it connects several strands of this region's identity: Gaelic lordship, coastal defence, maritime commerce and the spectacular scenery of the Iveragh Peninsula and the Wild Atlantic Way. The nearby Skellig Michael, with its extraordinary early Christian monastery perched on a sea stack twelve kilometres offshore, adds further historical and visual depth to one of Ireland's most rewarding coastal destinations.

Ballybunnion Castle stands on a clifftop headland in north County Kerry with the Atlantic on three sides, commanding dramatic views over Ballybunnion beach and the Shannon estuary. The sixteenth-century tower house was a stronghold of the MacMahon family and later the FitzGeralds, its clifftop position making it one of the most defensible sites on the Kerry coast. Ballybunnion town is renowned for its beaches and its golf club, one of the world's finest links courses that has attracted US presidents and international professionals. The surrounding north Kerry coastline offers exceptional beaches, wildlife and views across to Clare.

Ballycarbery Castle overlooks the sea near the mouth of the Valencia River about 3km from Caherciveen in County Kerry. The castle is in ruins, and the whole back wall has fallen down. The castle was surrounded by a defensive wall, but more than half of it has gone. You can still see the arrow slits along the remaining parts of the wall. A staircase can be seen inside one part of the wall. The ground floor of the castle had several rooms, of which only one has roof and walls intact. There are two staircases up to the first floor, one of which is still in good condition. The second floor is not accessible, as the stairs were probably against the back wall which has gone. Facilities The castle is in a pleasant location with views over the sea and surrounding countryside. It makes an impressive sight when seen from Ballycarbery Beach, especially at high tide. The present Ballycarbery Castle was built in the 16th century, although there had been an earlier building on the site since the 14th century. It was a seat of the MacCarthy Mores, but may have been occupied by their wardens the O'Connells. During the 1590s it was granted to Sir Valentine Browne in the 1590s after the death of Daniel McCarthy More, but was taken back by the Macarthys during the wars between the Royalist and Confederate forces in the 1640s. Oliver Cromwell's troops severely damaged the castle in 1652 when it was attacked with cannons. Local farmers removed stones from the damaged castle for building.

Ballyheigue Castle near the village of Ballyheigue in north County Kerry is an early nineteenth-century Gothic Revival ruin built for the Crosbie family, the principal landlords of this coastal district. The building features battlemented towers and pointed openings in the picturesque manner fashionable among the Irish Ascendancy, set within a demesne overlooking Ballyheigue Bay and Tralee Bay beyond. The Crosbie estate declined through the nineteenth century, reflecting the broader collapse of Ascendancy landownership that followed the Land Acts. The Ballyheigue coastline today is celebrated for its beach and traditional seaside village atmosphere, with views toward the Shannon and the Dingle Peninsula.

Ballymalis Castle is a ruined tower house in the Laune valley near Beaufort in County Kerry, standing at the foot of MacGillycuddy's Reeks, the highest mountain range in Ireland. The compact rectangular tower reflects the Kerry tower house tradition of the later medieval period. The castle's position close to the River Laune, which drains Lough Leane and connects the Killarney lakes to the sea at Castlemaine, reflects the importance of river routes in the geography of medieval Kerry. The setting beneath the jagged ridgeline of the Reeks forms part of the Ring of Kerry and Killarney National Park landscape.

Ballyseede Castle is set on a 30 acre site only 3 miles from Tralee in the extreme south west of Ireland. Access to the fully restored castle is via a winding carriage driveway. It is built over three floors with two curved bows to the front and a battlemented parapet. Inside the castle has large columns leading to a grand staircase, two drawing rooms with ornate plasterwork and fireplaces, a library and dining room. Facilities Today's castle has been transformed into a 4 star hotel offering 23 bedrooms and suites in the transformed stable block and the main castle. Rooms in the main castle have high ceilings and four poster beds and the hotel also offers a number of rooms especially for families. The hotel offers two dining experiences, one in the Library Bar where guest's can sit around the open fire, or in the more formal dining room which has gained a reputation for fine dining with its five course meals. Where ever guests choose to eat all food is sourced locally and seasonal. The hotel also has its own team of wedding coordinators who tailor make wedding packages to individual requirements. They offer a range of suites which hold up to a maximum of 220 guests with free overnight accommodation for the bride and groom; exclusive use of the castle can even be arranged. Ballyseede Castle was the garrison for the Earl's of Desmond; the Fitzgerald's, who refused to swear allegiance to the crown resulting in the Desmond Wars which took place over 300 years. The wars finally ceased in 1584 when Gerald; 16th Earl of Desmond, was beheaded in the estate at Ballyseede and his head exhibited in a cage on London Bridge. The Castle was confiscated and handed over to Robert Blennerhassett for the nominal rent of a red rose which had to be presented each year on Midsummer's Day. The family remained at the castle until 1966 after which time it was transformed into a hotel. Legends A ghost called 'Hilda' is said to haunt the castle's basement and each year on the 24th March she makes her presence known.

Carrigafoyle Castle can be found 2 miles north of Ballylongford on the south side of the River Shannon. It is situated in a channel between the mainland and Carrig island on the very south west tip of Ireland The castle is accessed by a raised stone pathway which becomes inaccessible during very high tides so caution is advised. Carrigafoyle Castle is made up of courses of thin limestone bricks in the style of a tower house. It rises over 86 feet in height and each of its five floors comprises of a small room with oblong chamber off the stone staircase. The house is exposed on the landward side due to a breach in the wall and is shielded by a wooded island against the estuary. The castle is a national monument but has been left in its ruined state. Facilities The castle has been partially restored and various internal rooms and staircases are accessible. There are no visitor facilities, but this need not detract from the medieval experience of seeing the castle. The castle was built in the 1490's by Conor Laith O'Connor-Kerry in a strategic position overlooking the shipping lanes that brought goods to Limerick. To the north on the seaward side the castle is offered protection by a small wooded island and on the landward side to the south and west there were double walls enclosing a moat. The walls extended into the water and made a dock capable of landing ships that were up to 100 tons in weight, their design was so great that they still did not allow boats access within the inner wall. In 1580 the castle was attacked from land and sea by Sir William Pelham in the Desmond Wars, the bombardment took place over two days and used very heavy weapons including culverin; huge naval guns, and cannons. On Palm Sunday the castle was taken after the tower was badly damaged by cannon fire; collapsing and killing many of those inside. Those who survived were massacred, in total 50 Irish and 19 Spanish lives were lost. The castle is has never been repaired due to the amount of damage it sustained, but it has been made safe. It still stands today in ruins with parts such as the moat and outer wall still visible.

Dunbeg Fort is an Iron Age promontory fort on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, jutting into the Atlantic on three sides with sheer cliff drops and defended on land by concentric earthen banks and a stone wall. The innermost enclosure contains a clochán dry-stone beehive hut and a souterrain underground passage. Dating from roughly 500 BC, the fort may have continued in use into the early Christian period. Situated on the Slea Head Drive, one of Ireland's most celebrated scenic routes, the surrounding hillsides contain one of the world's largest concentrations of early Christian clochán clusters. Dunbeg is managed by a local community trust and is open to visitors.

Gallarus Castle is a late medieval tower house on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, associated with the Ferriter family, lords of the western Dingle Peninsula from the fourteenth century. The most celebrated Ferriter was the seventeenth-century poet Piaras Feiritéar, the last Gaelic lord in Munster to resist Cromwellian authority, who was executed in 1653 and whose Irish-language poetry remains among the finest of its period. The castle stands near the famous Gallarus Oratory, a perfectly preserved dry-stone corbelled church of the seventh to ninth century and one of the iconic buildings of early Christian Ireland.

Listowel Castle is situated in the centre of the town of Listowel on a steep bank overlooking the River Feale and a strategic ford, 16 miles north of Tralee in the south of Ireland. The parts of the castle which are still standing have been well restored and visitors to the castle toady can see much of the front of the castle including two of the original four storey towers of almost 50 feet in height joined by a curtain wall and an arch to one side. There has been a recent addition of an external staircase in keeping with the architecture. Facilities Visitors to Listowel Castle can access the top floors of the castle via an external staircase, however this is by guided tour only and each tour has to be limited to a maximum of twelve visitors at a time so during the busy summer months it may be necessary to wait. The castle is open daily between 21st May and the 2nd September between 09:30 and 17:30 and information on the history of the castle can be found in the Seanchaí Centre which is adjacent to the castle. The castle was built in the 15th century by the Fitzmaurice family on the site of an earlier castle believed to be from the 13th century. Although the castle was not the main family residence it was strategically important to them as they were in constant battle with their neighbors the O'Neil's and the Desmond's and also with the soldiers of the Crown. Due its position they were able to ford the river and create a stronghold against the marauders. It was the last of the Geraldine's fortress' to be brought under control after a twenty eight day siege on the 5th November 1600 by Sir Charles Wilmot who subsequently executed what remained of the castles' garrison. The castle then passed to the Hare family who were granted the title 'Earls of Listowel'. The castle was left abandoned and fell into ruins. In 2005 the Office of Public Works started the castle's restoration with the cleaning and restoration of the stone, and building the external staircase.

Minard Castle is a dramatic clifftop ruin above Minard Beach on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, a sixteenth-century FitzGerald Desmond stronghold overlooking Dingle Bay toward the Iveragh Peninsula. The castle was destroyed in 1650 by Cromwellian forces who undermined the walls with explosives, creating the dramatically collapsed ruin visible today with large sections of masonry lying at precarious angles on the clifftop. The shingle beach below, composed of large rounded boulders, adds to the visually striking coastal landscape. The Dingle Peninsula combines dramatic coastal scenery with one of the densest concentrations of prehistoric and early Christian monuments in Ireland alongside a living Gaelic-speaking community.

Muckross House is a Victorian mansion of considerable beauty set within Killarney National Park in County Kerry, standing on the shores of Muckross Lake, the middle of the three Lakes of Killarney. The house was completed in 1843 for Henry Arthur Herbert and his wife Mary Balfour Herbert, and its design in the Tudor Revival style reflects the Victorian enthusiasm for medieval and Elizabethan architectural forms. The grey Killarney limestone from which it is built gives the house a solid, settled appearance that is entirely in keeping with its landscape setting among ancient woodland and mountain. The most celebrated moment in Muckross House's history came in 1861 when Queen Victoria, accompanied by Prince Albert and a substantial royal party, visited during a tour of Ireland. The visit prompted the Herberts to spend an enormous sum on improvements and furnishings intended to create an impression worthy of royal approval. Unfortunately the investment contributed to serious financial difficulties, and the estate eventually passed through several changes of ownership before being donated to the Irish Free State in 1932 by the Bourn Vincent family, forming the nucleus of what would become Killarney National Park. The house is richly furnished with Victorian antiques, artwork and decorative items that reflect the lifestyle of the Anglo-Irish gentry at the height of their prosperity. The kitchen and servants' quarters in the basement level have been preserved to show the substantial domestic operation that kept a house of this scale functioning. The formal gardens surrounding the house, including the renowned rock garden with its extraordinary collection of rhododendrons, azaleas and mountain plants, provide seasonal colour throughout much of the year. Three traditional farms on the Muckross Estate have been restored and are maintained as working farms recreating agricultural practices from the 1930s and 1940s. Rare breed livestock, vintage machinery and costumed interpreters bring the period to life in a way that is particularly effective for family visitors. The farms operate according to the seasonal calendar, so different activities are visible at different times of year. The traditional jaunting cars unique to Killarney, horse-drawn open carriages driven by local guides known as jarveys, can be hired at Muckross to explore the lakeside roads and woodland paths that the estate is famous for. The nearby ruins of Muckross Abbey, a fifteenth-century Franciscan friary set within a dramatic yew grove, are reachable on foot from the house and add a medieval dimension to the visit.

The ruins of Parkavonear Castle stand on Aghadoe Hill in Aghadoe, Ireland, and overlook the lakes of Killarney. Parkavonear is unusual for an Irish castle because it is circular instead of rectangular. Only the stone structure of this castle is standing today. A staircase joins its two remaining storeys, and the first storey still has the ruin its fireplace. The interior space spans several metres, and the walls are two metres thick. The remnants of a square earthworks wall stand around its keep, and a moat with two ditches surrounds it. Facilities The castle is open and accessible to the public. Built in the 13th century, Parkavonear Castle was erected after the 1169 invasion of Ireland by Anglo-Norman forces. It once had a church on its grounds. The castle's original entrance was on an upper floor, so that the ladder used to access it could be withdrawn for battle. However, another entrance was made in its lower floor at a later date. The structure also once included wooden floors and a wooden roof, although these rotted and were removed. Not much is known about its history, except that it has traditionally been called 'The Bishop's Chair' or 'The Bishop's Pulpit' by locals. Its name is derived from the Irish for 'field of a meadow', which is pairc an mhoineir. It is sometimes spelled 'Parkvonear', though the local spelling uses the 'a'.

Rahinnane Castle is a ruined tower house on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry near Ventry Harbour, associated with the FitzMaurice family who were lords of Kerry and one of the more powerful Anglo-Norman dynasties of the western seaboard. The castle stands in the extraordinarily dense archaeological landscape of the Dingle Peninsula, where tower houses represent a late medieval layer over a much deeper record of promontory forts, clochán beehive huts, ogham stones and early church sites spanning more than three thousand years. The village of Ventry with its fine sandy beach was historically important as a landing place for coastal trade and fishing.