Jul 18 2007
Irish Castles
Ashford Castle
Ashford Castle is a medieval castle near Cong in County Mayo on the shore of Lough Corrib. The castle was built in the 13th century by the Anglo-Norman de Bugos family, after their defeat of the O’Connors of Connaught.
Ashford was rebuilt and extended from the 1850s by Benjamin Guinness, and his son Arthur took his title from an island on the lake. The Guinnesses sold it in 1945.
Today the castle is a five star hotel, one of Ireland’s finest. A boat which leaves from the castle offers trips on Lough Corrib. The 1952 film The Quiet Man was filmed on location at Ashford, featuring many parts of the castle and the neighboring town of Cong.
Belfast Castle
Belfast Castle is set in the grounds of Cavehill Country Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland. It provides great views of the city of Belfast and Belfast Lough.
A castle has existed on the site since the 12th Century. The current castle was built in 1870 by George Chichester, 3rd Marquess of Donegall, and was designed by Charles Lanyon and his son. After Chichester’s death and the family’s financial demise, The Earl of Shaftesbury completed the house.
It was the Shaftesbury family who presented it to the City of Belfast in 1934. It is now owned by Belfast City Council and open to the public. The castle hosts an antiques shop, a restaurant and visitors centre and it is a popular venue for conferences, private dining and wedding receptions that need to be booked up to 18 months in advance.
Bunratty Castle
Bunratty Castle is a castle of Norman architecture in County Clare, Ireland. It lies in the centre of Bunratty village (Irish: Bun Ráite), by the N18 road between Limerick and Ennis, near Shannon Town and its airport. The name Bunratty, Bun Raite (or possibly, Bun na Raite) in Irish, means the ‘bottom’ or end of the ‘Ratty’ river. This river, alongside the castle, flows into the nearby Shannon estuary. From the top of the castle, one can look over to the estuary and the airport.
The castle and the adjoining folk park are run by Shannon Development.
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle (Irish: Caisleán Bhaile Átha Cliath) in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, is a major fortified complex, and was the seat of British rule in Ireland until 1922. Most of the complex dates from the eighteenth century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland, and the Castle served as the seat of English, then later British government of Ireland under the Lordship of Ireland (1171-1541), Kingdom of Ireland (1541-1800) and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1800-1922).
Dublin Castle fulfilled a number of roles over the centuries. It was first and foremost a royal residence, resided in by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland or Viceroy of Ireland, the representative of the monarch. The Viceregal Apartments (now called the State Apartments) remain one of the most splendid sites in Dublin, and are the location of the inauguration of the President of Ireland. The second in command in the Dublin Castle administration, the Chief Secretary for Ireland, also had his offices there. Over the years, parliament and the law courts met there, before moving to new purpose-built venues. It also served as a military garrison.
Throughout the British rule of Ireland, “Castle Catholic” was a pejorative term for Catholics who were seen to be overly friendly with or supportive of the British administration.
Dromoland Castle
Dromoland Castle is a castle, now a luxury hotel with golf course, located near Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare, Ireland.
The present building was completed in 1835. However the first building constructed here seems to have been a 15th or early 16th century tower house and is recorded as being erected by Thomas, the son of Shane Mac Anerheny[1].There were at least three houses on the site, at various times, called Dromoland. While Dromoland later became residence of eight generations of the O’Brien family, early records suggest that the area was also occupied by other local Gaelic families such as the McInerney family during the 16th century[2]. According to the historian James Frost, Dromoland translates as the “Hill of Litigation.”
Hillsborough Castle
Hillsborough Castle is the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II in Northern Ireland. It is resided in by her official representative, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.[1] It is also used by other members of the British Royal Family when they visit the country, and by prominent international visitors. It has been an official royal residence since the 1920s. From 1922 until 1972 it was the residence of Governor of Northern Ireland. The post of the Governor, who was the representative in Northern Ireland of the sovereign, was abolished in 1973.
Kilkenny Castle
Kilkenny Castle is a castle in Kilkenny, Ireland. It was the seat of the Butler family. Formerly the family name was FitzWalter. The castle was sold to the Irish government in the middle of the 20th century for £50. It has since been refurbished and is open to visitors. Part of the National Art Gallery is on display in the castle. There are ornamental gardens on the town side of the castle, and extensive land and gardens to the front.
Kilkenny castle was the venue for the meeting of the General Assembly, or parliament, of the Confederate Ireland government in the 1640s.
Awards and conferring ceremonies of the graduates of “Kilkenny Campus” of National University of Ireland, Maynooth have been held at the castle since 2002.