| Dunsoghly Castle | |
|---|---|
| Native name Caisleán Dún Sochlaigh (Irish) | |
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| Type | castle |
| Location | Dunsoghly, St Margaret's,Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53°25′37″N6°19′06″W / 53.426923°N 6.318328°W /53.426923; -6.318328 |
| Built | c. 1450 |
  Location of Dunsoghly Castle in Dublin | |
| Official name | Dunsoghly Castle |
| Reference no. | 230[1] |
Dunsoghly Castle is acastle and aNational Monument located in thecivil parish ofSt. Margarets, inFingal,Ireland.[2] The castle has been in state ownership since 1914. It is managed by theOffice of Public Works.[3]
The castle was built around 1450 by SirThomas Plunket,[4][5]Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas. It was occupied by the Plunket family until the 1870s, despite "being a cramped Irish castle and uncomfortable by post-medieval standards".[6] The castle's main tower is four-storey's tall and has tapering (almost square) turrets at each corner, rising above theparapet.[7][6]
The roof, which is arch-braced with four oak principals, has served as a model for restorations atBunratty Castle andRothe House.[6] On each collar-beam of the roof stands a king-post supporting apurlin and cross-pieces below the ridge. Therafters are laid flat rather than on edge as in modern roofs and the framework is covered with splitlaths.[citation needed]
There is a small chapel to the south bearing the year "1573" over the door,[8] theInstruments of the Passion and the initials of SirJohn Plunket and his third wifeJenet Sarsfield. Sir John Plunket was the grandson of Sir Thomas Plunket, who built Dunsoghly, and like his grandfather he was Chief Justice in one of thecourts of common law. On the west and south of the castle are remains ofearthwork defences which were reputedly constructed in the mid-17th century.[6]
Dunsoghly was used as Edinburgh Castle set in the 1995 filmBraveheart.[7]