14 Stunning Medieval Castles in Ireland

With Ireland’s rich Medieval history, Irish castles played a very significant role in it. Castles in Ireland included some of the oldest ones in the world, some of them were even in fact, very famous.

Kylemore Castle

Kylemore Castle

The country’s history can be traced back to every castle created across every county and it has moved from the early construction of wooden Motte and Baileys by the Normans to the massive fortresses built in stone that can still be seen across Ireland today.

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The building of stone Irish castles started a hundred years after the Norman invasion. By mid 12th century, the Normans controlled Ireland and the western part of Ulster, Clare, Kerry, and the western Galway.

Dunluce Castle

Dunluce Castle

It took a considerable amount of time to build these fortresses. It also required a significant labor force and a large sum of money and resources.

Therefore, it was imperative that each stone castle that was made had to be carefully and strategically built, with particular consideration for its political and military purpose.

Cork Castle

Cork Castle

Castle Purposes

  • Castles acted as power bases in Ireland.
  • Castles also served to overawe and frighten the indigenous population.
  • Castles provided a safe place for Irish noble families.
  • Castles served as symbols of wealth, political influence, and power.
North Belfast Castle

North Belfast Castle


To this day and age, several castles had been accounted to have survived warfare and sieges. Here are some of the best castles found in Ireland

1. Antrim Castle

Also known as Massereene Castle. It is located in Antrim County in Northern Ireland, situated beside the Sixmilewater River.

This castle was built from 1613 to 1662 and was destroyed by fire in 1922. It was finally demolished in 1970.

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2. Ardgillan Castle – Famous Castles in Ireland 

found in Balbriggan, Fingal Ireland. It consists of two stories over a basement that extends towards the south lawns. The ground and first floors were used for accommodation.

This Irish castle was actually built by Robert Taylor in 1738 and has remained with the family until 1962. The lady’s stair bridge links the castle with the road on the right and the Dublin railway line on the left.

Ardgillan Castle Castles in Ireland


3. Ashtown Castle

is located in Phoenix Park in Dublin. This castle is hidden behind larger buildings in the area used by the Papal Nuncio. The Ashtown castle was not discovered until the larger buildings surrounding the castle were demolished.

To this day, it has been restored and become part of the Phoenix Park visitor Center.

Ashtown Castle Castles in Ireland


4. Ballgally Castle

found in the village of Ballgally in the county of Antrim. This castle overlooks the sea towards the head of Ballgally Bay. In modern-day Ireland, this castle is used as a castle hotel and is known to be one of the most haunted castles in Ireland.

Ballygally Castle Castles in Ireland


5. Castle Upton

located in the village of Templepatrick in Antrim Northern Ireland. It has an impressive gateway found at the center of the village that leads up to the castle itself.

The main house is a tower house, which was originally thought to be part of a Commanderie of the Knights of St. John.

Castle Upton Castles in Ireland


6. Castleknock Castle

This castle was founded by Hugh Tyrrel, a Norman knight who was late made Baron of Castleknock. Tyrrel had chosen this location as it is near the end of the esker that stretches from Galway to Dublin.

Castleknock was considered the final rallying point for Rory O’Connor, the last High King of Ireland.


7. Swords Castle

Found in Swords, north of Dublin, Ireland. This was originally built as a manor house for John Comyn, the first Anglo-Norman Archbishop of Dublin around the 12th century.

It is considered to have a very strong military sense but quite unusual especially since its perimeter wall was larger than most Irish castles.

During the 1641 rebellion, this castle was chosen as a refuge for Anglo-Irish Catholic families, and according to recent studies, it is possible that some of the burials that were found during excavation may have been related to the attack of Sir Charles Coote where more than two hundred men were killed.

Swords Castle Castles in Ireland


8. Balfour Castle

found in Lisnaskea, the county of Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. This castle sits at the edge of a graveyard just west of Main Street. It is also referred to as a State Care Historic Monument that sits in the townland in Fermanagh District Council.

Castle Balfour was granted to Michael, Lord Balfour by King James I. Then it was later on re-granted to James, Lord Balfour in 1620.

Balfour Castle Castles in Ireland


Most Famous Irish Castles

9. Birr Castle

This castle was described as the large castle in the town of Birr in the county of Offaly. It has also been referred to as “One of the seven wonders of Ireland”.

It has resided since the lat 12th century. However, the stands today have already been reconstructed in the 17th century.

It is open to the public for a limited period of time since, during the summer, it still served as the home for the Lord and Lady Rosse since 1620.

Birr Castle Castles in Ireland


10. Bunratty Castle

One of the Irish castles in the country that still lived to this day and is one of Ireland’s most popular tourist spots. It has very fine and impressive furnishings.

A 15th-century medieval fortress that overlooks the river Shannon and its surrounding lands. Bunratty Castle is located in the County Clare.

The MacNamara family constructed the structure in 1425. However, scholars believed that the initial settlement in the area can be traced back to the time of the Vikings.

Bunratty Castle Castles of Ireland

Bunratty Castle Castles of Ireland


11. Charleville Castle

Is also found in the County Offaly. It has been considered by many as the best neo-gothic architectural structure in Ireland.

It was designed by Francis Johnston for Charles William Bury, the Earl of Charleville, in 1798. Historians noted that it took about 14 years to build this fortress.

The dual grand staircases and ornate plaster ceilings are only a few of the castle’s elaborate designs that survived to this day. Charleville Castle was one of the most beautiful castles in Offaly in the 17th century, finer than Birr Castle.

Charleville Castle Castles in Ireland


12. Donegal Castle

Unlike other castles in Ireland, Donegal castle was very different in appearance. The castle consists of buildings that date back to the 15th century.

Although most of the buildings in the castle has already been destroyed, the government launched a project to restore the castle in 1990.

Donegal castle is located in County Donegal close to River Esque.

Donegal Castle Castles in Ireland


13. Dublin Castle

This castle is quite a fairy tale with its massive medieval fortress walls that protect the inner sanctum of the grand, majestic staterooms. The castle is also filled with several fabulous artworks, furniture, and crystals that were pleasing to the King and Queen.

Dublin Castle sits right at the heart of the capital city and served as the center of the British government in the country.

It was originally built as a defensive fortress during Dublin’s Norman rule but later became a royal residence. As of today, it houses both a museum and the Chester Beatty library.

Dublin Castle - Castles of Ireland Monument

King John of England ordered the construction of the Dublin Castle in 1204


14. Malahide Castle

The Malahide Castle is a popular and valuable structure in North County Dublin. It has 450 acres of parklands, a children’s playground, trees, and walkways. It was the oldest and longest inhabited castle in Ireland with the same family who lived there since 1185.

It was granted to Richard Talbot as the lands and harbor of Malahide by King Henry II. The structure can be traced back to the 12th century and has survived the attacks during the Battle of Boyne.

Famous Castles In Ireland Malahide Castle

Malahide Castle was constructed by one of Henry II’s knights following his invasion of Ireland


Irish Castles Summary

Some other Irish castles range from large towers to smaller ones. Some of them were even homes to poets and playwrights like Willaim Butler Yeast. There were also grand county houses such as the Birr castle.

These big houses and vast estates were given to English landlords in exchange for military duty. As a result, some of these properties were ransacked and burned during invasions. However, some were still saved and restored so that the public is free to explore.