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ThisList of Castles in Ireland, be they inNorthern Ireland (United Kingdom) or in theRepublic of Ireland, is organised by county within their respective jurisdiction.
| Name | Image | Location | Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballyloughan Castle |  | Bagenalstown52°40′22.5″N6°53′53.1″W / 52.672917°N 6.898083°W /52.672917; -6.898083 (Ballyloughan Castle) | Castle | 13th century[1] | A ruined castle located near Bagenalstown featuring one of the finestgatehouses inIreland.[2] The castle's architecture would suggest that the castle was built by aNorman lord c.1300 and was likely abandoned in the 14th century.[3] Near the end of the 16th century, the castle was occupied by theKavanghs and then passed to the Bagenals, and then finally to the Bruens in the 19th century.[4] |
| Ballymoon Castle |  | Muine Bheag52°42′0″N6°54′25.2″W / 52.70000°N 6.907000°W /52.70000; -6.907000 (Ballymoon Castle) | Castle | 13th century[5] | A Norman castle, assumed by some to be unfinished, built by the Carew family, likelyRoger Bigod, sometime between1290 and1310, possibly to defend theBarrow river valley from Irish raiders in a region over which the Normans had little control.[5] In the past, the castle has been erroneously associated with theKnights Templar.[6] |
| Carlow Castle |  | Carlow52°50′11″N6°56′9″W / 52.83639°N 6.93583°W /52.83639; -6.93583 (Carlow Castle) | Castle | 1209[7] | A once mighty fortress erected byWilliam Marshall upon the site of amotte-and-bailey built byHugh de Lacy in1180. The castle has seen combat in various hostilities: theSilken Thomas Rebellion, an attack byRory Oge O'Moore in1577, theIrish Rebellion of 1641, theIrish Confederate Wars, and theConquest of Ireland byOliver Cromwell.[7][8] In1813, the castle was leased to a Dr. Phillip Parry Price Middleton, who attempted to renovate it into a mental asylum in1814.[9] The castle was demolished after a partial collapse caused by an explosion and abandoned until1996 when the castle was given into the care of theOffice of Public Works.[10][11] |
| Huntington Castle |  | Clonegal52°41′23.28″N6°38′54.96″W / 52.6898000°N 6.6486000°W /52.6898000; -6.6486000 (Huntington Castle) | Country house | 1625[12] | A castle constructed by theEsmonde family in1625,[12] after QueenElizabeth I's forces captured the area and gave it to the Nettervilles, who then gave it to the Esmondes. A branch of the family, the Robertsons, still maintain ownership of the castle and it still serves as their ancestral home. Despite this, the castle is open to the public.[13] In addition to a shrine to theEgyptiangoddessIsis, the castle is noted as being haunted.[14] |
| Leighlinbridge Castle, or Black Castle of Leighlinbridge |  | Leighlinbridge52°44′8.52″N6°52′41.16″W / 52.7357000°N 6.8781000°W /52.7357000; -6.8781000 (Leighlinbridge Castle) | Bawn | 1180[15] 1181[16] 1547[16] | A castle built byHugh de Lacy in1180 to defend the river crossing,[15][17] rebuilt by John de Clahull in1181,[16] and once again rebuilt in1547 byEdward Bellingham after its destruction in the 14th century by the Cavanaghs. The castle was sacked again by Cromwellian forces underColonel Hewson in1650 during theIrish Confederate Wars.[18] |
| Tinnahinch Castle |  | 52°31′48″N6°57′0″W / 52.53000°N 6.95000°W /52.53000; -6.95000 (Tinnahinch Castle) | Country house | c.1620[19] | Tinnahinch Castle was built in the early 17th century byJames Butler to control a bridge that once stood on this spot, but was confiscated from him for his involvement in theRebellion of 1641.[20] The castle burned down in1700 and remains a ruin.[21] |
| Name | Image | Location | Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bailieborough Castle  |  | Bailieborough 53°55′45″N 6°59′27″W | Country house | 1613[23] | Also known as "Castle House" or "Lisgar House," Bailieborough Castle, was by1629 an enclosed demesne that was attacked by Irish rebel forces under Colonel Hugh O'Reilly in1641.[22] Around1895 in Ireland, the estate was sold under theAshbourne Act to a Sir Stanley Herbert Cochrane Bt., only to be destroyed by fire in1918. Though the house was largely rebuilt two years later, it was ultimately sold for demolition in1923.[citation needed] |
| Ballyconnell Castle | Ballyconnell 54°7′0″N 7°35′0″W | Bawn | 1620 | An early 17th-centuryPlantation-era castle built by a Capt. Culme and Walter Talbot that burned down in1764.[22] The castle was rebuilt as Ballyconnell House by a "G. Montgomery."[24] | |
| Cabra Castle |  | Cabra 53°54′50″N 6°46′28″W | Mansion | 18-19th centuries | "Cabra Castle" refers to two structures. The first structure, thought to have been an O'Reily castle, was located west ofKingscourt, was destroyed and the land it stood on confiscated by Cromwell and given to Colonel Thomas Cooch. When Cooch died in1699, he willed the property to the Pratts, a localAscendancy family. However, the land the current castle stands on was at that time owned by the Fosters, another Ascendancy family, and it contained a small tower destroyed in the time of Cromwell house dubbed "Cormey Castle." This house was rebuilt in1808, but its construction exhausted the funds of the Fosters so the property was sold to the Pratts.[25] Today, the castle and estate functions as a hotel.[26] |
| Castle Saunderson |  | Belturbet 54°7′36″N 7°21′35″W | Castle | 1840 | In the 1840s, the Saunderson family built a new mansion upon the land they had owned since the early 17th century and used it as their seat until1977 when it was sold to aLondon-based business man. His plans to renovate the castle didn't come to fruition, and so the castle was sold again in1990.[citation needed]Seven years later, the castle and estate were purchased byScouting Ireland and is now open to the public for most of the year.[27] |
| Cloughoughter Castle |  | Belturbet 54°0′44″N 7°27′59″W | Castle ruin | 1233[28] | An ancient castle, possibly built on acrannóg,[29] built by the O'Rourkes, the Anglo-Normans and finished by theO'Reilly clan in1233.[28][30] After their 300-year long possession of the castle, during which they imprisoned Philip O'Reilly here in the 1360s, the castle was given to Captain Hugh Clume, and was then demolished by Cromwellian forces in1653.[31] |
| Name | Image | Location | Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballyallaban ringfort | _-_geograph.org.uk_-_3074975.jpg) | Ballyvaughan 53°5′24″N 9°9′31″W | Circular rampart,ringfort | An ancient earthenCaher, or ringfort, in good repair located inthe Burren next to theR480 near Ballyvaughan that is today anIrish National Monument.[32][33] | |
| Ballynagowan Castle (Smithstown Castle) |  | Kilshanny52°59′27″N9°16′11.9″W / 52.99083°N 9.269972°W /52.99083; -9.269972 | Tower House | 15th Century | Ballynagowan (Smithstown) takes its name from 'bael-atha-an-ghobhan', meaning the 'mouth of the smiths ford'. It was first mentioned in 1551 when the last King of Munster,Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Thomond (also known as the Tanist) willed the Castle of Ballynagowan to his son Teige before his death. The Irish rebel "red" Hugh O'Donnell,Oliver Cromwell, Conor O'Brien and his wifeMáire Rua O'Brien (the "Red Mary"), the High Sheriff of County Clare and Viscount Powerscourt amongst others played a part in the Castle's turbulent history. The Castle became a ruin after its last inhabitants left in the mid-19th century, only to be fully restored again in the 1990s, whereby it was transformed into a self-catering home.www.smithstowncastle.com. |
| Ballinalacken Castle |  | Lisdoonvarna 53°2′46″N 9°20′14″W | Tower house | 15-16th Centuries | A two-stage castle built on alimestone outcrop that looms over the road from Lisdoonvarna toFanore. The tower stands on the grounds of an 1840s hotel that was built to serve as a residence for the powerfulO'Brien family.[34] |
| Ballyhannon Castle |  | Quin 52°48′5″N 8°54′30″W | Tower house | c.1490[35] | A tower house constructed by Hugh and possibly Síoda MacNamara around1490.[36] The MacNamaras lost the castle to the O'Briens during thePlantation of Ulster and were further despoiled of the castle during theRebellion of 1641. The castle survived Cromwell's conquest of Ireland (possibly due to its Protestant ownership at that time) and today operates as hotel.[37] |
| Ballymarkahan Castle | _-_geograph.org.uk_-_4570420.jpg) | Quin 52°48′14″N 8°50′13″W | Peel tower | c.1430[38] | Built by theMacNamara family in the 15th century. Today, the massive tower house is a ruin missing its southeast corner.[39] |
| Ballyportry Castle |  | Corofin 52°57′0″N 9°2′24″W | Tower house | 15th century[41] | A tower house built upon the ancient site of the seat of theBrian Boru and other O'Briens. Today's tower house was built in the 1490s, and the O'Briens resided there for about a century before their cataclysmic defeat atKinsale. The castle was restored byAmericanarchitect Bob Brown in the 1960s.[40] |
| Boston Castle | _-_geograph.org.uk_-_1541393.jpg) | Boston 53°1′48″N 8°55′26″W[43] | Tower house | A ruined tower house and the site of the deaths of Mahon O'Brien and the other defenders of the tower in1586. After three months the besieger, Sir Richard Bingham, Governor of Connacht,[citation needed] accepted the surrender of the defenders, he had them killed and the tower partially destroyed.[42] | |
| Bunratty Castle |  | Bunratty 52°41′48″N 8°48′43″W | Castle | 1425[44] | Today a tourist attraction,[45] this 15th century castle has a long and checkered history. Built on the site of an ancient Viking settlement and an earlier 13th century castle built in1270 by Thomas de Clare,[46] this castle, built in1425 byMacNamara clan,[47] was seized by the O'Briens in a battle in1475,[46] whose lord was then granted the title "Earl ofThomund" byKingHenry VIII. The castle, under the defense ofWilliam Penn, was again seized in theIrish Confederate Wars.[48] In1712, the castle left the holding of the O'Briens when the Eighth (and last) Earl of Thomund sold it to the Studderts, who left it to fall into ruin when they moved to a nearby residence called "Bunratty House." In1956 Viscount Lord Gort, with the help of the IrishOffice of Public Works,[49] purchased, restored and opened the castle to the public. Today, it remains in the care of the Shannon Heritage.[46] |
| Caherconnell Stone Fort |  | The Burren 53°2′27″N 9°8′23″W | Ringfort | 10th century | This ringfort, located 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) fromPoulnabrone dolmen,[50] is one of theBurren's most popular tourist attractions. Excavations have shown that this ancient ringfort may have been erected on the site of an even older,Neolithic orBronze Age-era site. The ringfort is also the location of the Burren's leading Sheepdog demonstration.[51] |
| Caherminnaun Castle |  | Caherminnaun,Kilfenora | Castle ruin | A ruin where in1591 Murrogh O'Brien, the Lord of Caherminnaun, died. In1839, the site of the castle was described as "a heap of ruins and rubbish."[52] | |
| Carrigaholt Castle |  | Carrigaholt 52°36′0″N 9°41′58″W | Tower house | c.1480[53] | Carrigaholt Castle is a late 15th-century tower house built by the Clare McMahons for use as their primary residence.[53] The castle, overlooking theShannon Estuary from the north,[54] is not open to the public. |
| Castlecrine | County Clare[55] 52°45′21″N 8°45′2″W[55] | Hillslope fort[55] | |||
| Castlecrine House | Sixmilebridge | Country house | 1860s[57] | Crine Castle was a lateGeorgian style country house that was built a Capt. Henry Butler of the Butler family around1860[56] and was demolished in1955.[citation needed] | |
| Castlelake House | Sixmilebridge 52°46′5″N 8°44′48″W[58] | Country house | |||
| Craggaunowen Castle |  | Quin 52°48′40″N 8°47′37″W | Tower house | 1550[59] | A typical tower house built in1550 by John MacSioda MacNamara[60] the castle was confiscated in the mid 17th century[61] and left in ruin. In1821, the land the tower house stood on was inherited by a Tom Steele, who carried out some restoration work.[62] Upon his death in1848, the castle went to his niece.[63] The castle was renovated in1965 by a John Hunt and is today in the possession of Shannon Heritage.[60] |
| Doonagore Castle |  | Doolin 53°0′14″N 9°23′15″W | Castle | 16th century[64] | A lonely tower house and bawn built around1500 by MacTurlough O'Conner[65] upon the site of an earlier 14th century fortification located 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from the village of Doolin,County Clare.[66] In1588, a ship of theSpanish Armada shipwrecked off the coast just below the castle and the town sheriff,Boetius MacClancy,[67] arrested some 170 stranded Spaniards, then hanged them at the castle.[64] They were buried at a nearbyIron Age barrow called Cnocán an Crochaire. By the early 19th century, the castle had fallen into disuse and disrepair, but then a counselor Gore renovated the castle. It had called into bad repair again by the mid 19th century before being purchased by Irish-American John C. Gorman, who turned the tower house into a private holiday home. It remains in the possession of the Gorman family to this day.[65] |
| Dangan Castle |  | Knocksaggart 52°43′30″N 9°3′58″W | Castle | 13th century | Built by Philip de Clare. It was formerly a place of some strength, and was of a quadrangular form, flanked at each angle by a small round tower : from the centre rose the donjon or keep. The ruins form a picturesque object in the well-planted demesne of Dangan.[68] |
| Doonbeg Castle |  | Doonbeg | Castle ruin | 16th century | |
| Dough Castle |  | 52°57′4″N 9°21′2″W | Castle ruin | ||
| Dromoland Castle |  | Newmarket-on-Fergus 52°46′55″N 8°54′28″W | Restaurant,château,hotel | restored castle, hotel | |
| Dromore Castle |  | County Clare 52°55′32″N 8°57′46″W | Tower house | ||
| Dunmackelim Castle | |||||
| Freaghcastle | .jpg) | Kilfarboy 52°52′34″N 9°26′12″W[69] | Promontory fort[69], contour fort[69] | ||
| Gleninagh Castle |  | County Clare, Gleninagh North 53°8′16″N 9°12′21″W | Castle | ||
| Gregans Castle |  | 53°4′36″N 9°11′4″W | Castle | ||
| Inchiquin Castle | Corofin | Castle ruin | |||
| Kiltanon Castle | |||||
| Knappogue Castle |  | County Clare 52°47′38″N 8°49′54″W | Schloss country house museum | ||
| Tullagh Lower 1 | County Clare[70] 52°59′2″N 9°11′49″W[70] | Contour fort[70] | |||
| Leamaneh Castle |  | County Clare 52°59′15″N 9°8′25″W | Castle ruin,castle | 1480 | |
| Milltown Castle | |||||
| Moher Castle | |||||
| Moher Tower |  | County Clare 52°56′51″N 9°28′9″W | Building | 1808 | |
| Newtown Castle |  | County Clare 53°6′14″N 9°10′9″W | Tower house | ||
| O'Brien's Tower |  | Doolin 52°58′23″N 9°25′50″W | Folly | ||
| O'Dea Castle |  | Corofin 52°54′41″N 9°3′59″W | Castle | ||
| Teerobannan Castle | |||||
| Tromra Castle |  | Castle | |||
| O'Grady's Castle |  | County Clare[71],Tuamgraney 52°53′49″N 8°32′24″W[71] | Castle[71] | ||
| Tullagh Fort | |||||
| Tyredagh Castle | |||||
| View Castle |
| Name | Image | Location | Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athlone Castle |  | Athlone53°25′24″N7°56′33″W / 53.42333°N 7.94250°W /53.42333; -7.94250 (Athlone Castle) | Castle | 1210[127] | A castle located on theRiver Shannon in the town of Athlone, near the centre of Ireland, and possibly standing on the site of an earlier timber keep built byKingTairrdelbach Ua Conchobair ofConnacht in the 12th century,[128] The current structure began with the castle'sdonjon upon the motte and was later expanded upon via acurtain wall and corner towers circa1276 byBishopJohn de Gray ofNorwich.[129] The castle was again renovated in1547 bySir William Brabazon,Lord Justice of Ireland, only to be battered in theSiege of Athlone and finally destroyed by lightning in1697.[130] Since the Napoleonic Era, the castle has been modified and refurbished until2002 when today's visitor center was constructed. The visitor's center underwent renovation in2012.[131] |
| Ballinlough Castle | Clonmellon53°38′2.4″N7°1′33.6″W / 53.634000°N 7.026000°W /53.634000; -7.026000 (Ballinlough Castle) | Country house | 1614[132] | A country house and seat of theNugentO'Reillys (since1812)[132] built in1614, according to the O'Reillycoat of arms above the door.[132] Since its construction, the Nugents have maintained the estate. | |
| Clonyn Castle |  | Delvin53°37′0″N7°6′0″W / 53.61667°N 7.10000°W /53.61667; -7.10000 (Clonyn Castle) | Country house | 1639[133] | In1639,Richard Nugent,1st Earl of Westmeath, built for himself a residence on a small hill near the village of Delvin.[133] The castle was burned by a panicked Richard Nugent to prevent its capture byCromwellianforces.[134] Some time later in1680, the current building was completed in1860 and reoccupied by the Nugents until1922 when Patrick Nugent sold it and moved toScotland.[133] AfterSolomon Schonfeld went bankrupt attempting to help Jewish refugee children, the castle fell into the hands of the Dillon family and has remained such for over 25 years.[133] |
| Killua Castle |  | Clonmellon53°39′34.34″N6°59′46.34″W / 53.6595389°N 6.9962056°W /53.6595389; -6.9962056 (Killua Castle) | Country house | 1780[citation needed] | In1780, Sir Benjamin Chapman, 1st Baronet, tore down an oldKnights Hospitallers castle confiscated by Cromwell in1667 and built the current structure.[citation needed] Renovations to the house and grounds including the nearby Raleigh Obelisk in1810[135] were completed in the following decades before the Baronet died with Montagu Richard, 5th baronet and the subsequent dissolving of the property. The castle sat as an empty ruin until2004,[136] when renovations aimed at restoring the castle as a private residence began.[137] |
| Knockdrin Castle |  | Mullingar53°34′25″N7°18′54″W / 53.57361°N 7.31500°W /53.57361; -7.31500 (Knockdrin) | Mansion | c.1815[138] | In1810, Sir Richard Levinge commissioned Sir Richard Morrison for two designs of a private residence.[138] However, it is believed that a design from noted contemporary architect James Shiel was the one used to construct the house.[138] |
| Moydrum Castle |  | Athlone53°25′41″N7°51′46″W / 53.4281°N 7.8628°W /53.4281; -7.8628 (Moydrum Castle) | Country house | c.1814[139] | |
| Nugent Castle |  | Delvin53°36′38″N7°05′33″W / 53.61056°N 7.09250°W /53.61056; -7.09250 (Nugent Castle) | Keep | 1181 | |
| Portlick Castle | Glassan53°28′58.8″N7°54′0″W / 53.483000°N 7.90000°W /53.483000; -7.90000 (Portlick Castle) | Tower house | |||
| Rattin Castle |  | Kinnegad53°44′39″N17°13′1″W / 53.74417°N 17.21694°W /53.74417; -17.21694 (Rattin Castle) | Tower house | ||
| Tullynally Castle |  | Castlepollard53°40′59.56″N7°19′40.26″W / 53.6832111°N 7.3278500°W /53.6832111; -7.3278500 (Tullynally Castle) | Country house | ||
| Tyrrellspass Castle |  | Tyrrellspass53°23′9.6″N7°22′51.6″W / 53.386000°N 7.381000°W /53.386000; -7.381000 (Tyrrellspass Castle) | Bawn | c.1411 |
| Name | Image | Location | Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antrim Castle or Massereene Castle[141] | _-_geograph.org.uk_-_588779.jpg) | Antrim54°43′19.2″N6°13′51.6″W / 54.722000°N 6.231000°W /54.722000; -6.231000 (Antrim Castle) | Country house | 1613–1622[142] | Built by Sir Hugh Clotworthy alongside an earliermotte, the plantation castle was besieged unsuccessfully in1641 and again in1648. It was extended in the 1660s byViscount Massereene and rebuilt as aGeorgian country house in1813. This was expanded in1887 but burned down in1921, possibly due toarson. The ruins were later demolished, though the castle gardens have been restored.[143][144] The castle is reputedly haunted by the ghost of a servant girl nicknamed the "White Lady."[145] |
| Ballycastle Castle | Ballycastle55°12′3.6″N6°15′0″W / 55.201000°N 6.25000°W /55.201000; -6.25000 (Ballycastle Castle) | Demolished | 15th century 1564 1652 | The castle that gave Ballycastle its name stood in the Diamond at the centre of town. The ruins were removed in1850.[146] | |
| Ballygally Castle |  | Ballygally54°53′52.8″N5°51′28.8″W / 54.898000°N 5.858000°W /54.898000; -5.858000 (Ballygally Castle) | Tower house | 1625[147] | James Shaw of Greenock,Scotland, built the tower house and it remained in his family until1820. It was used as acoastguard station from the 1830s, but reverted to a dwelling in the late 19th century. In1938 it was converted into ahotel and a new wing was added. In addition to being run as a hotel since the 1950s and being a Grade A listed site, this is also one of the most haunted buildings in all of Ireland.[148][149] |
| Ballylough Castle | Bushmills55°10′30″N6°30′46.8″W / 55.17500°N 6.513000°W /55.17500; -6.513000 (Ballylough Castle) | Tower house | 15th century | The castle was a seat of theMacQuillans, and was attacked and captured by the O'Donnells in1544. In the 18th century, the estate was the property of the Traill family, who built Ballylough House nearby. The ruins of the castle were repaired for use as adovecote in the 1820s. Two walls remain in the grounds of Ballylough House.[150] | |
| Belfast Castle |  | Belfast54°38′34.8″N5°36′31.2″W / 54.643000°N 5.608667°W /54.643000; -5.608667 (Belfast Castle) | Country house | 1870[151] | The original Belfast Castle, built in the 12th century, was located in the city centre, but burned down in1708.[151] The present house was built by theMarquess of Donegall on the hills to the north of the city. It was designed byJohn Lanyon in theScottish Baronial style. It later passed to theEarl of Shaftesbury, and was granted to the Corporation of Belfast in1935. The house was opened to the public as a venue for weddings and dances and remains in use for this purpose, having been extensively restored in the 1980s.[152] |
| Carra Castle |  | Cushendun55°7′58.8″N6°2′13.2″W / 55.133000°N 6.037000°W /55.133000; -6.037000 (Carra Castle, Antrim) | Hall house | 14th century[153] | Little is known of this site, which is thought to have been built in the early 14th century, though it is traditionally believed to be the place whereShane O'Neill was killed by theMacDonnells in1567.[153] Archaeological investigation suggests use of the abandoned building as acillín (infant's' burial ground) in the 16th century.[154] |
| Carrickfergus Castle |  | Carrickfergus54°42′46.8″N5°48′2.16″W / 54.713000°N 5.8006000°W /54.713000; -5.8006000 (Carrickfergus Castle) | Normancastle | 1177[155] | The tower and inner ward were built byJohn de Courcy,[155] who led the Norman invasion of Ulster in the 12th century. The castle served as his base of operations until it was seized from him in1204 by Hugh de Lacy.[155]King John captured the castle for the English crown in1210. It was held byHugh de Lacy in the 13th century, who set about construction of the outer walls and gatehouse. It later returned to theEnglish crown, and was besieged several times. Improvements were made, in the 16th and 17th centuries, in order to accommodate artillery. The castle was captured by the French in1760 and afterward served as a military outpost, housing an armoury, magazine and prison. It was given into state care in1928, and remains open to tourists as a historic monument.[156] |
| Dunaneeny Castle | Ballycastle55°12′39.6″N6°15′0″W / 55.211000°N 6.25000°W /55.211000; -6.25000 (Dunaneeny Castle) | Ruins | 16th Century | Established byAlexander MacDonnell on the site of apromontory fort overlooking Port Brittas (now known as Ballycastle Bay). The castle is the purported birthplace of Scottish-Irish chiefSorley Boy MacDonnell. Only the foundations of the gatehouse are now visible, on the cliffs near acaravan park.[157] | |
| Dunluce Castle |  | Portballintrae55°12′39.6″N6°34′44.4″W / 55.211000°N 6.579000°W /55.211000; -6.579000 (Dunluce Castle) | Castle | 13th century[158] | Built byRichard de Burgh, secondEarl of Ulster, on the site of a 10th-century fort possibly built by the Vikings. In1513 the castle was occupied by theMacQuillans, who lost it in the mid 13th century to theMacDonnells and they made the castle their principal residence. In1588, theGirona (ship), agalleass of theSpanish Armada, wrecked on the coast directly below the castle, so the MacDonnell chief, Somerled MacDonnell, took the ship's cannon and mounted it in the castle and used the profit from selling the ship's cargo to renovate the castle.[158] Though the castle remained in the hands of the MacDonnell clan, they would eventually move the center of their power toGlenarm Castle.[159] |
| Dunseverick Castle |  | Dunseverick55°14′16.8″N6°26′52.8″W / 55.238000°N 6.448000°W /55.238000; -6.448000 (Dunseverick Castle) | Ruins | 9th century | This coastal site was blessed bySaint Patrick and raided by Vikings in the 9th century. By1560 the castle was held bySorley Boy MacDonnell, but was taken from him byShane O'Neill that same year. It was held by theO'Cahans in the 17th century, but was destroyed by a Scottish army underGeneral Munro during theRebellion of 1641.[160] Only the ruins of the gatehouse remain standing.[161] |
| Galgorm Castle | Ballymena54°51′25.2″N6°19′1.2″W / 54.857000°N 6.317000°W /54.857000; -6.317000 (Galgorm Castle) | Bawn and Country house | c.1607[162] | Galgorm Castle is a mid-17th-century country house, probably built for Dr.Alexander Colville, within a bawn wall of the early 17th century. It was renovated in the 1830s by theEarl Mount Cashell. It is a grade A listed building and remains a private residence.[163] | |
| Glenarm Castle |  | Glenarm54°57′57.6″N5°57′21.6″W / 54.966000°N 5.956000°W /54.966000; -5.956000 (Glenarm Castle) | Country house | 1636[164] | Glenarm was the site of a medieval tower house, which was ruined by the mid 18th century whenAlexander MacDonnell, 5th Earl of Antrim, commissioned Christopher Myers to rebuild it as his principal residence. The MacDonnells completed the castle for their residence in1636 in the Palladian style, and extended it in the 1780s. In the 1820s,Anne, Countess of Antrim, commissionedSir Richard andWilliam Vitruvius Morrison to remodel the house and build the gatehouse in a "Jacobethan" style. The house was gutted by fire in1929 and damaged by another fire in1966, but was restored each time. It remains in the MacDonnell family and is a grade A listed building.[165] |
| Kinbane Castle |  | Ballycastle55°13′44.4″N6°17′27.6″W / 55.229000°N 6.291000°W /55.229000; -6.291000 (Kinbane Castle) | Ruins | 1547[166] | Constructed byColla MacDonnell on a coastal promontory in1547, it was damaged by the cannons of the English underSir James Croft in1551.[166] It was besieged again in1555 and Colla died at the castle in1558. In the 17th century it was held by theMacAlisters, and was occupied into the 18th century. The ruins came into state care in the 1970s, and comprise the remains of curtain wall and a ruined tower.[167] |
| Kilwaughter Castle |  | Larne54°50′31.2″N5°53′16.8″W / 54.842000°N 5.888000°W /54.842000; -5.888000 (Kilwaughter Castle) | Country house | 1807[168] | The presentGeorgian style house, which incorporated an earlierScottish baronial Plantation house built in1622, was commissioned in1807 by Edward Jones-Agnew to designs byJohn Nash.It was not completed until1830, with further alterations continuing into the 1850s. It passed by marriage to an Italian family, and by1939 it was owned by two sisters who lived inItaly. With the outbreak of theSecond World War it was seized by theCustodian of Enemy Property, and used as a military training camp until1945. The abandoned building was stripped and its roof was removed in the 1950s, and remains an empty shell.[citation needed] |
| Lissanoure Castle | Loughguile55°3′18″N6°19′58.8″W / 55.05500°N 6.333000°W /55.05500; -6.333000 (Lissanoure Castle) | A medieval castle stood at Loch Guile, which was replaced by the Macartneys in the 18th century. This was rebuilt in the 19th century but subsequently demolished. Only the estate buildings now remain, constructed using stone from the castle.[169] | |||
| Olderfleet Castle | .jpg) | Larne54°50′42″N5°48′32.4″W / 54.84500°N 5.809000°W /54.84500; -5.809000 (Olderfleet Castle) | Tower | 16th century[170] | Probably built in the 16th century as a fortified storehouse and watchtower, overlooking the entrance to Larne Lough. This building was known as Coraine or The Curran. A separate structure, known as the "Olderfleete," was located to the north-west, though nothing of this remains.[171] |
| Rathlin Castle or Bruce's Castle |  | Rathlin Island55°17′49.2″N6°10′8.4″W / 55.297000°N 6.169000°W /55.297000; -6.169000 (Rathlin Castle) | Ruins | Limited remains of a medieval castle stand on a promontory on the island's east coast. It is said to have been the location whereRobert the Bruce, King of Scots, stayed in1306 after his flight from Scotland.[172] | |
| Red Bay Castle | Glenariff55°4′1.2″N6°3′18″W / 55.067000°N 6.05500°W /55.067000; -6.05500 (Red Bay Castle) | Ruins | 13th century 1604[173] | Sir James MacDonnell built a castle here in1563, on the site of an earlierpromontory fort. This was attacked and destroyed byShane O'Neill two years later, but rebuilt bySorley Boy MacDonnell in1568. The site was robbed of stones for the repair ofDunluce Castle, but was restored in1604. Cromwell's troops destroyed it once more in1652 and only fragments of masonry remain above ground.[174] | |
| Shane's Castle |  | Randalstown54°43′55.2″N6°16′12″W / 54.732000°N 6.27000°W /54.732000; -6.27000 (Shane's Castle) | Country house | 1345[175] | A series of buildings have stood on this site, a major seat of the O'Neills. A late medieval tower house forms the core of the complex, which was extended in the 17th century. This was replaced by a large country house in the 18th century. TheEarl O'Neill commissionedJohn Nash to build a new extension in the early 19th century, but these were left unfinished when the main house burned down in1816. The ruins of the various buildings are now in state care and open to the public.[176] |
| Castle Upton |  | Templepatrick54°42′14.4″N6°5′27.6″W / 54.704000°N 6.091000°W /54.704000; -6.091000 (Castle Upton) | Country house | 1610 | Built as a tower house by Sir Robert Norton, it was sold in1625 to Captain Henry Upton ofCornwall. His descendant,John Upton, 1st Viscount Templetown, commissionedRobert Adam to remodel the house, extending it in a picturesque castellated style. The 2nd Viscount commissioned further remodeling byEdward Blore. The house was restored in the later 20th century and remains a private residence.[177] |
| Name | Image | Location | Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creevekeeran Castle | Keady54°16′33.6″N6°47′45.6″W / 54.276000°N 6.796000°W /54.276000; -6.796000 (Creevekeeran Castle) | Bawn | Creevekeeran was an impressive O'Neill bawn with a moat built next to Hanslough Lake. Today, only one tower remains standing of the mighty bawn.[178] | ||
| Fathom Castle | Newry | Bawn | 1550s | Fathom Castle, once a stronghold of theO'Neill clan, was built byShane O'Neill.[179] Fathom castle was seized during theNine Years' War and then demolished in1730 for the construction of acanal. | |
| Gosford Castle |  | Markethill54°18′38.59″N6°31′06.59″W / 54.3107194°N 6.5184972°W /54.3107194; -6.5184972 (Gosford Castle) | Country house | 1850s[180] | The Acheson family built a Plantation castle around1617, though this was destroyed in the rebellion of1641. It was replaced by a manor house which was occupied until around1840. In1819,Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford commissionedThomas Hopper to design the present castle. The Norman-revival style castle was completed around1859, though the family vacated it in the 1920s. It was sold to theMinistry of Agriculture in1958, and was briefly a hotel in the 1980s. After a period of neglect it was sold on to developers in2006, though the proposed residential renovation stalled in2010.[181][182] |
| Killeavy Castle | Meigh54°7′22.8″N6°24′36″W / 54.123000°N 6.41000°W /54.123000; -6.41000 (Killeavy Castle) | Country house | 1836[183] | Originally a farmhouse called Killeavy Lodge, it was expanded by Newry banker Powell Foxall to create the presentGothic revival castle, designed byGeorge Papworth. It was later owned by the Bell family but fell into disrepair in the later 20th century. It was sold in 2012 to owners wishing to restore the building.[184][185] | |
| Lurgan Castle or Brownlow House |  | Lurgan54°27′54″N6°19′40.8″W / 54.46500°N 6.328000°W /54.46500; -6.328000 (Lurgan Castle) | Country house | 1833[186] | Brownlow House, known locally as "Lurgan Castle," is a distinctive mansion built in1833 with Scottishsandstone in anElizabethan style with a lantern-shaped tower and prominent array of chimney pots. It was originally owned by the Brownlow family, and today is owned by the Lurgan Loyal Orange District Lodge. The adjacent Lurgan Park, now a public park owned by Craigavon Borough Council, used to be part of the same estate.[187] |
| Moyry Castle |  | Jonesborough54°4′12″N6°23′6″W / 54.07000°N 6.38500°W /54.07000; -6.38500 (Moyry Castle) | Bawn | 1601[188] | A small tower built byCharles Blount, one of theQueen's most ruthless and effective generals, during theSiege of Kinsale in1601 to secureMoyry Pass and crush the power of the O'Neills in theGap of the North.[189] |
| Tandragee Castle, or Tayto Castle.[190] |  | Tandragee54°21′14.4″N6°25′1.2″W / 54.354000°N 6.417000°W /54.354000; -6.417000 (Tandragee) | Country house | 1837[citation needed] | In332, theO'Hanlon clan built a fortress called Tonregue Castle here to help drive their foes from County Armagh, but that fortress was burned down byIrish rebels in1641.[178] Almost two hundred years later in1837,Duke George Montagu built the current castle to serve as the residence of the Montagu family in Ireland. In the 1950s, the castle and estate were sold byAlexander Montagu to a business man from Tandragee by the name of Mr. Hutchison, and so the castle came to house theTaytopotato crisp factory and the park'sdemesne incorporates a golf course. |
| Name | Image | Location | Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ardglass Castle | .JPG) | Ardglass54°15′30″N5°36′20″W / 54.25833°N 5.60556°W /54.25833; -5.60556 (Ardglass Castle) | Country house | Late 18th century | Built on top of the row of 15th-century warehouses that most of the other castles in Ardglas were built to protect, Ardglass Castle is a manor house built byLord Charles Fitzgerald around1790. Since1911, it forms part of the Arglass Golf Club's course as the Club House.[191] Parts of the original structure, namely walls, still stand towards the east end of the property.[192] |
| Audley's Castle |  | Strangford54°22′44.4″N5°34′22.8″W / 54.379000°N 5.573000°W /54.379000; -5.573000 (Audley's Castle) | Bawn | 15th century[193] | Audley Castle is a 15th-century bawn constructed by its namesake the Audleys on a rocky hill 1.6 kilometres (0.99 mi) fromStrangford Lough.[194] In1646, the tower passed into the keeping of the Wards of Castle Ward. In the 18th century the tower was incorporated into the parks of the Castle Ward estate. The tower remains standing though the bawn is largely ruined.[192] |
| Bagenal's Castle | .JPG) | Newry54°10′22.8″N6°20′9.6″W / 54.173000°N 6.336000°W /54.173000; -6.336000 (Bagenal's Castle) | Tower house | 16th century | EnglishsoldierNicholas Bagenal built the tower house as his residence in around1578, on the site of Newry's medieval abbey. It remained in his family until the 18th century, after which it was altered, and it became part of a bakery in1894. The significance of the building was only noted in1996 after the bakery closed; it has since been restored and now houses the Newry and Mourne Museum.[195][196] |
| Bangor Castle |  | Bangor54°39′21.6″N5°40′8.4″W / 54.656000°N 5.669000°W /54.656000; -5.669000 (Bangor Castle) | Country house | 1852[197] | Robert Edward Ward had the house constructed in1852 to replace a 17th-century building on the site. The architect was probablyWilliam Burn, withAnthony Salvin having designed the separate stables building. It was the home ofLord Clanmorris in the early 20th century, and on the death of his widow in1941 the estate was bought by Bangor Council. The house has served as Bangor Town Hall since 1952.[198] |
| Bright Castle |  | Downpatrick54°16′30″N5°41′16.8″W / 54.27500°N 5.688000°W /54.27500; -5.688000 (Bright Castle) | Tower house | 15th–16th centuries | Built in the late 15th or early 16th century, the castle may have been demolished byLord Grey in1538. Only the eastern half remains standing.[199] |
| Carrowdore Castle |  | Donaghadee54°34′51.6″N5°32′34.8″W / 54.581000°N 5.543000°W /54.581000; -5.543000 (Carrowdore Castle) | |||
| Castlewellan Castle |  | Castlewellan54°15′50.4″N5°57′18″W / 54.264000°N 5.95500°W /54.264000; -5.95500 (Castlewellan Castle) | Country house | 1856[200] | AScottish baronial castle built by theAnnesley family between1856 and1858. It is located inCastlewellan Forest Park and is now used as a Christian conference centre.[201][202][203] |
| Clough Castle | %2c_October_2009.JPG) | Clough54°17′24″N5°49′55.2″W / 54.29000°N 5.832000°W /54.29000; -5.832000 (Clough Castle) | Motte-and-bailey | 11th century[204] | A small motte and bailey castle built by John de Courcy 11th century following theAnglo-Norman invasion of Ireland in timber and earth with some stone. Though it has fallen into ruin, Clough Castle is today one of the best preserved examples of a Motte and Bailey in Ireland.[205] |
| Cowd Castle or Choud Castle |  | Ardglass54°15′29.52″N5°36′20.52″W / 54.2582000°N 5.6057000°W /54.2582000; -5.6057000 (Cowd Castle) | Bawn | 15th–16th centuries[206] | Located across the street from Margaret castles stands Cowd castle, a small two-story tower house built in either the late 15th or early 16th centuries as part of a larger structure built with the intention of protecting the local area and its trade. In1791,Lord Charles Fitzgerald demolished much of that structure castle for his mansion,Ardglass Castle.[206] |
| Dundrum Castle | .jpg) | Dundrum54°15′46.8″N5°50′45.6″W / 54.263000°N 5.846000°W /54.263000; -5.846000 (Dundrum Castle) | Castle | 13th century[207] | Dundrum Castle (not to be confused withDublin'sDundrum Castle) was built byJohn de Courcy after his invasion ofUlster to control access toLecale from the west and the south. It was built upon a tall, rocky hill and thus commands fine views of theDundrum Bay andMourne Mountains, and the lands west towardsSlieve Croob and the plains of Lecale to the east. Dundrum castle has undergone several modifications such as the round keep added byKing John, its current lopsided design fromHugh de Lacy's second term asEarl of Ulster, and theOuter bailey that was built by theMagennis family in the late 15th century.[208] The castle was demolished in1652. Dundrum is aScheduled monument. |
| Greencastle |  | Kilkeel54°2′27.6″N6°5′49.2″W / 54.041000°N 6.097000°W /54.041000; -6.097000 (Greencastle) | Castle | c.1230[209] | Greencastle is a 15 and 16th century castle built on the site of aMotte-and-bailey possibly built by Hugh de Lacy in the 13th century. Local folklore also has it that John de Courcy was married here.[210] The castle served as an English garrison in Northern Ireland for several hundred years beforeCromwellian soldiers subjected it to destruction by artillery fire to prevent its usage by Irish rebels. |
| Hillsborough Castle |  | Hillsborough54°27′39.6″N6°5′9.6″W / 54.461000°N 6.086000°W /54.461000; -6.086000 (Hillsborough Castle) | Georgian Country house | 1770s[211] | A Georgian manor house owned theQueen that served as the resident of theGovernor of Northern Ireland until1973 and now serves as the official residence of theSecretary of State for Northern Ireland as well as the official residence of the Queen inNorthern Ireland.[212] Hillsborough Castle and the (at that time) village of Hillsborough were constructed in the 1770sWills Hill,[213] the firstMarquess of Downshire, for the Hill family and was in the keeping of the Hill family until 1922.[214] |
| Jordan's Castle |  | Ardglass54°15′36″N5°36′32.4″W / 54.26000°N 5.609000°W /54.26000; -5.609000 (Jordan's Castle) | Tower house | 15th century | Jordan's Castle is a rectangular, four story tall tower house in Ardgrass, County Down.[206] Built by Simon Jordan to defend against theTyrone Rebellion for three years until he was relieved byBaron Charles Bluont in1601.[215] In1911, Belfast antiquarianFrancis Joseph Bigger bought the castle, restored it and used it to display his extensive collection of antiquities and made it freely accessible to everyone to bring local people "in touch with the Irish past, and give them some conception of the historic background of their life."[216] |
| King's Castle | .JPG) | Ardglass54°15′32.4″N5°36′28.8″W / 54.259000°N 5.608000°W /54.259000; -5.608000 (King's Castle) | Tower house | 12th century | Easily the largest medieval structure in Ardglass,[215] King's Castle is a tower house originally built in the 12th century and modified extensively in following centuries. Was rebuilt in the 19th century and reopened as anursing home, which it remains even today, following a collapse of the building in1830 after failed attempts to repair the foundation of the building. |
| Kilclief Castle |  | Strangford54°19′40.8″N5°33′14.4″W / 54.328000°N 5.554000°W /54.328000; -5.554000 (Kilclief Castle) | Tower house | 1412–1443[217] | The oldest known tower inLecale, having been erected in the window of time from1412 to1443 and probably by John Sely,Bishop of Down,[218] Kilclief Castle is very similar in construction to Jordan's Castle and is notably less ruined. Later, the building was garrisoned by 11 English soldiers during the Irish Nine Years' War from1601 to1602. |
| Killyleagh Castle |  | Killyleagh54°24′7.2″N5°39′14.4″W / 54.402000°N 5.654000°W /54.402000; -5.654000 (Killyleagh Castle) | Castle | 1180[219] | In its current presentation, Killyleagh Castle is asarchitect SirCharles Lanyon designed it: aLoire Valley stylechâteau built in the mid 18th century. Possibly one of the oldest continuously inhabited castles inIreland, Killyleagh Castle was first constructed by Norman knight John de Courcy in1180,[219] one of many such fortifications to protect the Strangford Lough againstViking incursion.[220] Since its early beginnings, the castle has been important to the history of the local region (County Down), having a pivotal role to play in events from local lords in theDark Ages fighting against English rule,[221] local fighting against the English connected to the fall of the Stuarts, and even local combat against theIrish Republican Army in the 1920s.[220] |
| Kirkistown Castle |  | Cloghy54°26′31.2″N5°27′57.6″W / 54.442000°N 5.466000°W /54.442000; -5.466000 (Kirkistown Castle) | Bawn | 1622[222] | A three-story-tall tower house and bawn built by Roland Savage, a Norman landlord,[223] on the site of a 9th-century tower in1622 (thus predating thePlantation). The tower was occupied until it was abandoned and left to decay until its purchase andGothic renovation by a "Colonel Johnston" and some further modification still in1836 by a "Montgomery ofGrey Abbey." It was abandoned once again in1831,[224] but was opened to the public once more in2001 by theNorthern Ireland Environment Agency. |
| Mahee Castle |  | Strangford Lough54°30′3.6″N5°38′52.8″W / 54.501000°N 5.648000°W /54.501000; -5.648000 (Mahee Castle) | Tower house | 1570[225] | Is a ruined tower house nearNendrum Monastery onMahee Isle by an English soldier named Captain Thomas Browne.[226][227] Later, it fell into ruin after being abandoned in the early 17th century until its partial renovation in1923 by a H.C. Lawlor and theBelfast Natural History and Philosophical Society.[228] |
| Margaret's Castle | .JPG) | Ardglass54°15′30.24″N5°36′23.04″W / 54.2584000°N 5.6064000°W /54.2584000; -5.6064000 (Margaret's Castle) | Tower house | 15th century[229] | Margaret's Tower is one of six ruined tower houses built to protect the warehouses that used to stand in Ardglass that possibly stood 3 stories tall and is thought to have been built in the 15th century. |
| Myra Castle | Strangford54°22′4.8″N5°37′19.2″W / 54.368000°N 5.622000°W /54.368000; -5.622000 (Myra Castle) | ||||
| Narrow Water Castle |  | Warrenpoint54°6′54″N6°16′58.8″W / 54.11500°N 6.283000°W /54.11500; -6.283000 (Narrow Water Castle) | Bawn | 1212[230] 1560s[230] | A famous bawn constructed some time in the 1560s on the site of an old Norman keep built by the firstEarl of UlsterHugh de Lacy in1212 in order to impede attacks on the river city ofNewry. Narrow Water Castle was also the site of the infamousWarrenpoint ambush on 27 August1979, wherein theProvisional Irish Republican Army detonated two bombs that killed 18 British army soldiers.[231] |
| Portaferry Castle | .jpg) | Portaferry54°22′48″N5°32′56.4″W / 54.38000°N 5.549000°W /54.38000; -5.549000 (Portaferry Castle) | Tower house | 16th century[232] | A small tower house built by William Le Savage in the 16th century overlooking the harbor.[233] It has seen little to no change in its form over the years. |
| Quintin Castle |  | Portaferry54°22′37.2″N5°29′20.4″W / 54.377000°N 5.489000°W /54.377000; -5.489000 (Quintin Castle) | Castle | 1184[234] | Quintin castle is one of the very few Anglo-Norman castles still occupied in Ireland.[235] The castle was built in1184 on the orders of John de Courcy and later occupied by theSavage family, who would add some small additions to the castle. This cycle would continue through the ages all the way to now. |
| Quoile Castle |  | Downpatrick54°20′56.4″N5°41′56.4″W / 54.349000°N 5.699000°W /54.349000; -5.699000 (Quoile Castle) | Tower house | 16th century[236] | A small tower house located 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from Downpatrick on the east bank of theRiver Quoile that was inhabited into the late 18th century.[237] |
| Sketrick Castle |  | Whiterock54°29′16.8″N5°38′52.8″W / 54.488000°N 5.648000°W /54.488000; -5.648000 (Sketrick Castle) | Tower house | 12th century | A tower house on Sketrick Island near Whiterock thought to have built in the 12th century that was acquired by Sir Robert Savage in the 14th century.[238] TheAnnals of the Four Masters record the capture and turning over of the castle in1470 by an army led by the O'Neills toMacQuillans.[239] It was intact until1896 when a storm demolished much of it.[240] |
| Stormont Castle |  | Stormont Estate54°36′7.2″N5°49′48″W / 54.602000°N 5.83000°W /54.602000; -5.83000 (Stormont Castle) | Mansion | Mid 19th century | Stormont, aScottish baronial mansion built in the mid 19th century, is one of the primary governmental buildings inNorthern Ireland. Stormont Castle has been the official residence for thosePrime Ministers of Northern Ireland who didn't decide to live inStormont House and the location of the Cabinet Room of theGovernment of Northern Ireland from1921 to1972. Before devolution it was the Belfast headquarters of theSecretary of State for Northern Ireland,Northern Ireland Office Ministers and their supporting officials. During theTroubles, it was also used as a base byMI5 officers.[241] |
| Strangford Castle |  | Strangford54°22′19.2″N5°33′18″W / 54.372000°N 5.55500°W /54.372000; -5.55500 (Strangford Castle) | Tower house | 15-16th centuries[242] | An intact tower house built on a hill overlooking the town of Strangford.[243] Although almost all of the castle corresponds with 16th-century Irish architecture, the tower house's door seems to indicate that the current incarnation of the tower is simply a remodeling of an earlier 15th-century tower house. Strangford was once used as a set for Winterhold in the popularHBOTV series,Game of Thrones. |
| Walshestown Castle | Strangford54°22′22.8″N5°37′22.8″W / 54.373000°N 5.623000°W /54.373000; -5.623000 (Walshestown Castle) | Tower house | |||
| Castle Ward |  | Strangford54°22′22.8″N5°34′44.4″W / 54.373000°N 5.579000°W /54.373000; -5.579000 (Castle Ward) | Tower house | 1760s[244] | An 18th centuryNational Trust property located 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the village ofStrangford that overlooks theStrangford Lough. The castle has been the home of the Ward family since about1570, though the modern structure was built forBernard Ward by an unknown architect, possibly and individual with ties to the Wards orJames Bridges.[245] On 10 February1973, Leonard O'Hanlon (aged 23) and Vivienne Fitzsimmons (aged 17), both members of theProvisional Irish Republican Army, were killed in a premature bomb explosion in the grounds of Castle Ward estate.[246] |
| Name | Image | Location | Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castle Archdale |  | Irvinestown54°29′13.2″N7°42′43.2″W / 54.487000°N 7.712000°W /54.487000; -7.712000 (Archdale Castle) | Bawn | 1615 | John Archdale built the tower house and bawn in1615 during thePlantation of Ulster. During theIrish Rebellion of 1641, it was destroyed by Rory Maguire but subsequently rebuilt. In theIrish campaign of theNine Years' War, Archdale Castle was destroyed again in1689. A mansion, also known as Castle Archdale, was built on the estate in1778, though this was also demolished. Of the final mansion built on this grounds, only the cobblestone courtyard remains because said mansion collapsed in1883.[247] DuringWorld War II, Castle Archdale was anRAFairbase. The ruins are today within a country park.[248] |
| Belle Isle Castle | Lisbellaw54°16′1.2″N7°33′21.6″W / 54.267000°N 7.556000°W /54.267000; -7.556000 (Belle Isle Castle) | Country house | 1700 | Belle Isle Castle is in truth a large estate spread across eight islands that has been inhabited since the 12th century.[249] Though the castle has been privately owned for nearly its entire history by generations of nobles such asRalph Gore, 1st Earl of Ross,[citation needed] it has been open to the public since1760, when the castle began hosting ceremonies, primarily marriages.[citation needed] Belle Isle was built by the aforementioned Ralph Gore around1700 after his father,Paul Gore, acquired ownership of the islands and has seen much expansion since. Today, theDuke of Abercorn owns and operates the castle as a venue and accommodation and has been declared aSpecial Area of Conservation.[250][251] | |
| Castle Balfour |  | Lisnaskea54°15′3.6″N7°26′42″W / 54.251000°N 7.44500°W /54.251000; -7.44500 (Balfour Castle) | Castle | c.1620[252] | Although Castle Balfour is a ruin, it is one of the best preserved of Plantation era castles.[253] Castle Balfour (also known as Castle Skeagh) was erected around1619 byLord Michael Balfour when the land was granted to him by KingJames I.[254][255] The castle was altered in1652 and damaged in1689.[256] The last person to possess and inhabit the Castle was James Haire who leased the castle fromEarl Erne. The Haire family ceased to live in the castle when it was razed by an unknown arsonist. Major conservation and restoration was undertaken in the 1960s and further conservation work was completed in the late 1990s.[256] RecentRadiocarbon on aringfort that belonged to the Macguires (the primary suspects in the above arson) on the grounds of the castle date back to359–428AD.[257] |
| Castle Caldwell |  | Belleek54°29′27.6″N7°58′26.4″W / 54.491000°N 7.974000°W /54.491000; -7.974000 (Caldwell Castle) | Bawn | 1612–1619[258] | Francis Blennerhassett built a tower house and bawn before1620, which was sold to Enniskillen merchant James Caldwell in1660. In the 1780s it was extensively remodeled and enlarged to form a country house in theGothic style. It was abandoned in the late 19th century, and in1913 theForest Service purchased the estate. Today, the ruins remain standing within the forest.[259] |
| Castle Coole |  | Enniskillen54°20′9.6″N7°36′10.8″W / 54.336000°N 7.603000°W /54.336000; -7.603000 (Castle Coole) | Country house | 1798[260] | A mansion built on the site of a 17th-century bawn named after a nearby lake,Lough Coole. Earlier structures in the area include aráth and acrannog on the lake.[261] Today's Castle Coole was constructed sometime from1789 and1798 as the summer retreat ofArmar Lowry-Corry,1st Earl of Belmore and as a showpiece by architectJames Wyatt. Additionally, several smaller family residences had been built on the Castle Coole estate preceding the mansion, including a dwelling of the King James period (later deliberately destroyed by arson) and aQueen Anne style house built in1709. The house is now managed by the National Trust and is open to the public.[262] |
| Crevenish Castle | Kesh54°30′39.6″N7°44′42″W / 54.511000°N 7.74500°W /54.511000; -7.74500 (Crevenish Castle) | Bawn | c.1618[263] | Crevenish Castle is a ruined bawn located 3 miles (4.8 km) southwest of the village of Kesh. The bawn was built by aNorfolk man named Thomas Blennerhassett (whose brother built Caldwell Castle),[264] a former captain atCornet Castle on the Isle ofGuernsey, between1611 and1622. The castle fell into the hands of the local Macguires when Thomas's eldest son died and his wife wedRory O'Moore, leader of theIrish Rebellion of 1641, but returned the castle to the Blennerhassetts when Rory was killed in1648. The castle was reported as being in "ruinous" condition by1697.[265] Around a third of the structure still stands in a privatecaravan park.[266] | |
| Crom Castle |  | Newtownbutler54°10′4.8″N7°26′52.8″W / 54.168000°N 7.448000°W /54.168000; -7.448000 (Crom Castle) | Country house | 1838 | Crom Castle is a 19th-centuryVictorian style castle situated on the coast of the UpperLough Erne. The castle was commissioned byJohn Crichton, 3rd Earl Erne in1831,[citation needed] and designed and executed by architectEdward Blore (who was responsible for sections ofBuckingham Palace)[267] in thebaronial andNeo-Tudor styles.[267] The mansion was completed seven years later, only to burn down three years later. Since its complete reconstruction, it has remained the home of theEarl of Erne.[268] |
| Old Crom Castle |  | Newtownbutler54°9′43.2″N7°26′38.4″W / 54.162000°N 7.444000°W /54.162000; -7.444000 (Crom Estate) | Plantation castle and bawn | 1611[269] | Like a lot of Irish country houses in the 17th century, an English lord, in this caseMichael Balfour, was granted this lake-shore estate in1611 during thePlantation of Ulster. The estate would pass into the keeping of the Crichton family in1655,[270] which by then included Balfour's bawn, which went on to survive two sieges in theWilliamite War before being destroyed in a fire in1746.[270] It was remodelled as a romantic garden in the 19th century, after the 'new' Crom Castle was built. The old castle and parks are now owned by the National Trust.[271][272] |
| Enniskillen Castle |  | Enniskillen54°20′45.6″N7°38′38.4″W / 54.346000°N 7.644000°W /54.346000; -7.644000 (Enniskillen Castle) | Tower house, later a barracks | 15th century[273] | The castle keep was established on a strategic site in the early 15th century by Hugh the Hospitable of theMaguire family. It was attacked by the O'Donnells and O'Neills in the 16th century, and taken for the British crown in1594. Although recaptured by the Maguires, they destroyed most of the castle in1602 to deny it to the British. During thePlantation of Ulster Sir William Cole was appointed constable of Enniskillen, charged with rebuilding the castle. From1607 he rebuilt the tower and constructed the Water Gate. The castle was besieged by the Irish in1641. The site was extensively rebuilt as a barracks in the later 18th century, and was occupied by the army until1950. It is now in state care and has been open to the public since1964 and currently houses the County Museum.[274][275] |
| Monea Castle |  | Monea54°23′34.8″N7°44′52.8″W / 54.393000°N 7.748000°W /54.393000; -7.748000 (Monea Castle) | Bawn | 1618[276] | The Scots-influenced tower house was built by Malcolm Hamilton, who added the bawn in the 1620s. It was besieged and captured during theIrish Rebellion of 1641. After1688 it was the residence ofGustavus Hamilton, Governor of Enniskillen, but was abandoned following a fire in the 18th century. The ruins are in state care and open to the public.[277] |
| Necarne Castle | _%2c_Irvinestown_-_geograph.org.uk_-_357778.jpg) | Irvinestown54°27′50.4″N7°38′6″W / 54.464000°N 7.63500°W /54.464000; -7.63500 (Necarne Castle) | Country house | 1615 | A tower house and bawn were built by a man named Gerald Lowther in the Plantation period. The lands passed to the Irvine family later in the 17th century, and in1833 the castle was rebuilt with a new Tudor-Gothic south wing. It has been empty since being used as a military hospital in theSecond World War.[citation needed] |
| Portora Castle |  | Enniskillen54°21′18″N7°39′39.6″W / 54.35500°N 7.661000°W /54.35500; -7.661000 (Portora Castle) | Bawn | 1613[278] | A tower house and bawn built by Sir William Cole, it was let toJames Spottiswood, Bishop of Clogher, in the 1620s, and was besieged in1641 and1688. The tower was occupied by the Coles until1764, after which it decayed. It was partly destroyed in an explosion in1859, and further collapsed during gales in the late 19th century.[279] |
| Tully Castle |  | Blaney54°27′21.6″N7°48′21.6″W / 54.456000°N 7.806000°W /54.456000; -7.806000 (Tully Castle) | Bawn | 1612–1615[280] | Built for Sir John Hume, Tully Castle comprised a tower house within a courtyard, which had square towers at each corner. The house was burned down by Rory Maguire during theIrish Rebellion of 1641, and was not subsequently reoccupied. A 17th century garden has been recreated in the courtyard.[281][282] |
| Name | Image | Location | Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellaghy Castle |  | Bellaghy54°48′28.8″N6°31′8.4″W / 54.808000°N 6.519000°W /54.808000; -6.519000 (Bellaghy) | Bawn | 1619[283] | A bawn that became afortified house built during thePlantation of Ulster on the site of an oldringfort in1619.[284] |
| Coleraine Castle | Coleraine55°7′55.2″N6°40′37.2″W / 55.132000°N 6.677000°W /55.132000; -6.677000 (Coleraine Castle) | Motte and bailey | 1248 | Norman-era castle, built on the site of a monastery and replaced with an 18th-century manor house.[285] | |
| Dungiven Castle |  | Dungiven54°55′30″N6°55′15.6″W / 54.92500°N 6.921000°W /54.92500; -6.921000 (Dungiven Castle) | Country house | 1839 | An earlier house was built on this site in the late 17th century. This was replaced by Robert Ogilby who constructed the present Gothic-revival castle in the 1830s, although it remained incomplete on his death in1839. It was later converted into flats and then bought by the local authority, who proposed demolition in the 1980s. It has since been restored and is now a hotel.[286][287] |
| Limavady Castle | Limavady55°1′26.4″N6°56′16.8″W / 55.024000°N 6.938000°W /55.024000; -6.938000 (Limavady Castle) | Tower house | 15th century | A stronghold of theO'Cahans, the tower house by the River Roe may have been built here in the late 15th century. A siege by the MacQuillans is recorded in1542 wherein all defenders were killed.[288] The castle was demolished in the 1820s.[289] | |
| Low Rock Castle |  | Portstewart55°10′40.8″N6°43′26.4″W / 55.178000°N 6.724000°W /55.178000; -6.724000 (Low Rock Castle) | Country house | 1820[290] | A lateGeorgian style castellated villa, once the home ofField MarshalSir George White (1835–1912). It was demolished in2001.[citation needed] |
| Name | Image | Location | Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altinaghree Castle |  | Donemana54°52′48″N7°14′45.6″W / 54.88000°N 7.246000°W /54.88000; -7.246000 (Altinaghree Castle) | Mansion | 1860 | A derelict castle outside of Donemama,County Tyrone alleged to have been built byWilliam Ogilby in1860.[291][292] William's son James fell in love with a factory seamstress, Mary Jane Jamieson, whom he ended up eloping with and marrying in1884. The castle was abandoned by the end of the century and fell into disrepair.[293][294] |
| Augher Castle |  | Augher54°25′44.4″N7°8′9.6″W / 54.429000°N 7.136000°W /54.429000; -7.136000 (Augher Castle) | Country house | 1615 | A typical, 30 feet (9.1 m) tall Plantation era castle built by Lord Ridgeway in1615 on the site of an older fortification that was later razed in1689 byJacobite forces during theSiege of Derry.[295] The castle was rebuilt and then graced by an adjoining mansion by architectSir J. M. Richardson Bunbury, Bart in1832 and used by theRichardson-Bunbury baronets as their seat. |
| Benburb Castle | Benburb54°24′28.8″N6°44′42″W / 54.408000°N 6.74500°W /54.408000; -6.74500 (Benburb Castle) | Bawn | 1611 | An irregular four sided Plantation era bawn built in1611 by Sir Richard Wingfield on a limestone cliff overlooking theRiver Blackwater, the border of CountiesTyrone andArmagh. As Wingfield had no desire to live at Benburb Castle, the castle was no main residential structure making it something of a defensive structure resembling akeep rather than a residence such as a bawn. 30 years after its completion, the castle was taken by Phelim O'Neill and everyone in the castle was slain.[296] Although the castle was dismantled in1640, it was restored and is today used as apriory and conference center by theServite Order.[296] | |
| Castlederg Castle, or Derg Castle |  | Castlederg54°42′21.6″N7°35′52.8″W / 54.706000°N 7.598000°W /54.706000; -7.598000 (Castlederg Castle) | Bawn | 1610 | The ruins of a rectangular Plantation era bawn built on the ruins of earlier O'Neill tower house located on the north shore of theRiver Derg.[297][298][299] The exact date of the castle's construction is unknown, but it was first mentioned in1497 by theAnnals of the Four Masters.[300][301] What is known, however, is that the castle was rebuilt in1610 bySir John Davies, who settled his purchased plot of land with 16 families brought over from England and also founded the town of Castlederg.[302]Phelim O'Neill, in his1641 Rebellion, besieged Castleerg and took it in his ultimately unsuccessful attempt to drive the newcomers fromUlster, and the castle was dismantled.[298][302] After the besieging and surrender of the castle toKing James II's forces during theWilliamite Wars in Ireland, the castle fell into disuse and ruin.[300] |
| Caulfield Castle |  | Castlecaulfield54°30′21.6″N6°50′6″W / 54.506000°N 6.83500°W /54.506000; -6.83500 (Caulfield Castle) | Fortified house | 1614[303] | Castle Caulfield is a ruined Plantation era fortified house built bySir Toby Caulfield upon the ruins of an olderO'Donnelly castle (dendrochronology of ajoist present in the structure date back to1282). The second Lord Charlemont added akeep ordonjon, and a large gatehouse with towers to the castle.[304] The castle was burned down in the Irish Rebellion of1641 by Patrick Donnelly,[305] was rebuilt and occupied by the Caulfields again in the 1660s, only for the castle to fall into ruin again around1700.[305] Today, the castle is a State Care Historic Monument.[306] |
| Dungannon Castle | Dungannon54°30′0″N6°46′12″W / 54.50000°N 6.77000°W /54.50000; -6.77000 (Dungannon Castle) | Ruin | 1305 | Since1305, the ancestral castle of theO'Neill dynasty stood on this hill outside of Dungannon.[307] However, that castle wasrazed in 1602 byHugh O'Neill to prevent the capture of the town and castle by the English. When the Plantation of Ulster began, the land the castle stood on was granted toSir Arthur Chichester, who rebuilt it.[308] In the again O'Neill led Irish Rebellion of1641, the castle was undermined and seized by Felim O'Neill, where he and his rebels declared their loyalty to Charles I. | |
| Harry Avery's Castle |  | Newtownstewart54°42′46.8″N7°23′34.8″W / 54.713000°N 7.393000°W /54.713000; -7.393000 (Harry Avery's Castle) | Castle | c.1320 | A rare example of a Gaelic castle left in Northern Ireland that is thought to have been built in1320 by a local O'Neill chieftain named Henry Aimhréidh O'Neill,[309][310] or Harry Avery O'Neill.[311] Despite that, it seems to have been a site of low importance to the local Gaelic people. The castle was seized by the English in1609 and used as aquarry.[310] Today, the castle's ruins are a State Care Monument under the guardianship of theNorthern Ireland Environment Agency.[312] |
| Killymoon Castle | Cookstown54°38′6″N6°44′9.6″W / 54.63500°N 6.736000°W /54.63500; -6.736000 (Killymoon Castle) | Country house | 1803 | Two castles have stood on this site. The first was a castle built in1761 by James Stewart, which burned down in1801. The second and notably larger structure is the castle built by Col. William Stewart in theNeo-Gothic style circa1803 according to a design byarchitectJohn Nash.[313][314][315] Today, the castle estate is home to a modest, 18-hole golf course.[316] | |
| Mountjoy Castle |  | Brockagh54°33′32.4″N6°36′28.8″W / 54.559000°N 6.608000°W /54.559000; -6.608000 (Mountjoy Castle) | Bawn | 1602[317] | Mountjoy Castle was a campaign fort built with red bricks byLord Mountjoy in1602 upon the ruins of an O'Neill fortress named "Fuath na nGall" (Irish:Hatred of Foreigners).[318] During theRebellion of 1641, the castle was taken by Turlough O'Neill and used as his personal fortress until his total defeat two years later. In1648, the castle was dismantled on the orders ofParliament and was left in ruin. The castle is today a State Care Historic Monument and freely accessible to the public.[306] |
| Roughan Castle |  | Newmills54°34′22.8″N6°45′7.2″W / 54.573000°N 6.752000°W /54.573000; -6.752000 (Roughan Castle) | Bawn | 1618 | A State Care Historic Monument located near Newmills, Northern Ireland.[319] Roughan Castle is a Plantation era bawn built by SirAndrew Stewart, the SecondLord Castlestewart. During theRebellion of 1641, the castle's current lord, Robert Stewart, was appointed a commander in the Rebel armies by Phelim O'Neill and he was captured here and brought toDublin to be executed.[320][321][322] |
| Roxborough Castle |  | Moy54°26′49.2″N6°41′31.2″W / 54.447000°N 6.692000°W /54.447000; -6.692000 (Roxborough Castle) | Country house | 1738[323] | The castle, originally built in1738 as the seat of theEarl of Charlemont,[citation needed] was remodeled byarchitect William Murray in theItalianate style in1842 for the second Viscount of Charlemont. Further remodeling later by the Second Viscount's resulted in a house that resembled aFrenchchâteau. The castle was again renovated in 1864 by the Third Viscount before the castle was razed to the ground by theIrish Republican Army in1922.[324] |
| Stewart Castle |  | Newtownstewart54°43′8.4″N7°22′30″W / 54.719000°N 7.37500°W /54.719000; -7.37500 (Stewart Castle) | Bawn | 1619 | A Plantation era English manor built in1619 bySir RobertNewcomen following theFlight of the Earls.[325] The castle was razed twice - first during theRebellion of 1641 by SirFelim O'Neill, and again in1689 by KingJames II along with its town as he returned from theSiege of Derry.[326] Today, the monument is a State Care Historic Monument.[306] Also present on the site is an intactBronze Agecist that was excavated in1999.[327] |
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