Irish Castles

The beautiful Irish countryside is full of luxurious and historical Irish castles, which draw visitors from all across the globe. Here's a look at some of the popular Irish castles that remain to be a majestic testimony of the rich history of Ireland.

Irish castles or the castles of Ireland give one the glimpse of Ireland's rich history and the grandeur associated with the architecture. Today, most Irish castles have been turned into luxurious hotels and this gives a person the option of having a completely private vacation or even plan a corporate meeting. The luxurious and glorious castles can truly make you feel like royalty when you just step down it its vicinity. For me, it's their sheer brilliance in architecture and the rich history, which has mainly held my fascination since the past number of years. Let us take turn the clock behind and know about some famous Irish castles that are simply mesmerizing and a beautiful sight to behold even today.

Famous Irish Castles:

Antrim Castle:
The Antrim castle was built sometime between the years, 1610 to 1666. This beautiful castle was built by Sir John Clotworthy. Sadly, a major portion of this Irish castle caught fire in the year 1922 during a grand ball. This led to the destruction of the Antrim castle. Today, the gardens of this Irish castle remain to be a very popular tourist destination.

Harry Avery's Castle:
The curious construction of this Irish castle is probably what makes people interested in it. The Harry Avery's castle is situated south west of Newtownstewart, County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. This Irish castle has 2-story rectangular shaped construction, with massive twin towers that are D shaped. It was named after Henry Aimbreidh O' Neil (Harry Avery O' Neil.)

Ashford Castle:
Set on the Northern shores of Lough Corrib, this one of the many Irish castles that stands as a luxurious hotel since 1939. The Anglo-Norman de Burgos family built this Irish castle in the 13th century.

Castle Durrow:
Castle Durrow is also now a luxurious hotel since 1998, providing the much-needed respite from the city life for the privileged few. This castle was built between the years 1712-1716 by Colonel William Flower.

Castle Coole:
Castle Coole was built during the years 1789 and 1798. Designed by James Wyatt, it is now one of the most treasured Irish castles. The design is neo classical and it has been reopened for the public since the year 2006. Castle Coole is located in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland.

Castleknock Castle:
Castleknock castle lies in the grounds of the Castleknock college in Castleknock which is located in Dublin, Ireland. The castle is almost in ruins and the only remains that remain are a part of the polygonal shaped keep. This castle sadly faced destruction after it was dismantled following the Civil War of 1641.

Blarney Castle:
Of all the well-known Irish castles, the Blarney castle is the most visited by tourists all throughout the year. The origins of this castle can be safely said to be before AD 1200. The Stone of Eloquence or the Blarney stone lies on top of the castle, which has many legends behind it. This Irish castle is located near Cork, Ireland.

Dublin Castle:
Although the Dublin Castle faced destruction due to fire in the late 17th century, today it stands restored back in its original glory. This castle was first founded in the year 1204 upon the orders of King John. Today, this Irish castle remains to be the venue for Ireland's Presidential Inaugurations and other Stately functions.

Ross Castle:
The Ross castle is located on the beautiful shores of the Lough Leane in the Killarney National Park, which is in County Kerry, Ireland. This Irish castle was built in the mid 1400s. Today, this castle is restored and one can enjoy the beautiful boat rides on the lake in the summer season. There are various legends associated with this Irish castle and the ancestors of this place-the O'Donoghue clan.

Bunratty Castle:
The Bunratty castle remains as one of the major tourist attractions today. The spiral stairways and dangerous dungeons form one of the major attractions of the Bunratty castle. This Irish castle lies in the central area of the Bunratty village. The Bunratty castle was built in the 15th century. This medieval fortress has luxurious and elaborately styled rooms. Some of the first dwellings that lived out here were the Vikings. One can get a gorgeous view from the top of the castle of the estuary and the airport area.

Cahir Castle:
This Irish castle is one of the largest castles that are found in Ireland. The Cahir castle is situated on a rocky island, which is located in the Suir River. This castle also forms to be a major tourist attraction. Conor O'Brien, the Prince of Thomond, built it in the year 1142. There was a specific tower that was connected to a river, which was the main source of water in the ancient days.

Audley's Castle:
The Audley castle is located near Strangford, County Down. This lies in the Northern areas of Ireland. The beautiful Irish countryside is dotted with many Irish castles like the Audley castle. Built in the 15th century, the Audley castle has an unmistakable tower. A thin wall that has a simple gate encloses this tower.

Belfast Castle:
The Belfast castle is a beautiful Irish castle that lies on the slopes on the Cave Hill. This castle is about 400 ft above sea level. One of the reasons why tourists flock to the Belfast castle is the stunning view that one can see of the city of Belfast and the Belfast Lough. This castle was completed in 1870 after a wooden castle was destroyed in a fire, which was also built on this site. It was designed by Charles Lanyon and his son for the 2nd Marquess of Donegall. The beautiful castle definitely deserves a visit and its antiques shop also remains to be a major attraction for many people who flock to the Belfast castle from all around the globe.