We Ranked Ireland's Ridiculously Spectacular Castles

14. Carrickfergus Castle

Country Antrim , Northern Ireland , est 1177Castles are no stranger to battles , but this waterside stronghold played a part in a pretty significant one ( to us anyway ): the American Revolution . Did the fight matter in the fantastic system of the war ? Nope . Did it relieve oneself off the British a whole deal ? It sure did . Upon learning of British ship , HMS Drake , anchored off the coast at Carrickfergus , Scotch - American sea captain John Paul Jones won America ’s first triumph against a ship in the Royal British Navy when he lured the destine watercraft away from the rook . What it ’s like today : The castle is open to the public and has a bunch of display if you require to get a feel for the turbulent life-style that was the middle ages , when people wear bitchin ’ suit of armor but had no running water , and drop dead to the bathroom outdoors , and could n’t even Netflix and shivering .

13. Cahir Castle

Tipperary , Republic of Ireland , est 1142If your idea of medieval time was forged in an immersive themed restaurant , you ’d well pack your bags – it ’s time for a tangible instruction . situate on a pocket-size , stony island in the River Suir , Cahir Castle is the best preserved medieval castle in Ireland , and your clang course in everything you would have need to make it in King Arthur ’s judicature . The tinyness of the island made it grueling to lie siege to – that is , until round shot became a matter . What it ’s like today : If the fact thatExcaliburwas filmed here does n’t move you , the cannon ball that ’s been stuck in the wall of the northeast tower since the Nine Years ’ War might do the trick . Cahir is open to the public and while you ’re welcome to visit alone , booking a guide helps get the full breadth of the site ’s history .

12. Enniskillen Castle

Fermanagh County , Northern Ireland , est 1567This rook on the banks of the River Erne played a strategic part in story , as one of the only passes into Ulster during sixteenth 100 Irish rebellion against the English . It was also used as an English fort in the 17th 100 ( uhh the rebellions did n’t go so well ) , and later as a military barracks . What ’s it like today : Enniskillen Castle is home to two museum , the Fermanagh County Museum , which focuses on the county ’s cultural , natural , and traditional story , and the Inniskillings Museum , a military museum that expose regimental raiment . The castle is undergoing restoration this year , and is about to get a visitor ’s center– further cement its persona as a gateway to the history of the entire county .

11. Ross Castle

Meath County , Republic of Ireland , est 1537Ross Castle , often mistaken for the grander castle in Killarney of the same name , may not have towboat and turrets and other affectations of magnanimousness , but it ’s got a lot of character . It played emcee to the legendary Irishman Myles " the Slasher " O’Reilly , who spent the night at Ross before hold off over one thousand British soldiers with his paltry force of 100 men . It also happens to be one of the most taken up spots in Ireland ; the spirit of a unseasoned womanhood is said to linger in the tugboat where she died of a humiliated heart ( her devotee swim when they seek to cross a river to run away together).What it ’s like today : Ross Castle 2016 fashion is a quaint bed and breakfast with forward-looking conveniences . Stay the nighttime next to the riffle Lough Sheelin , where you may fish , sail , and ponder the end of vernal love in its depth while the bawling of the heartbroken maiden ’s ghost quieten you into a terrified sleep in the ancient tower .

10. Ballynahinch Castle

County Galway , Republic of Ireland , est 1684ishA pirate queen used to live here . Well … sort of . The house belong to the first hubby of Grace O’Malley , the Chieftain of the O’Malley clan . She take on the role of Chieftain after her father ’s expiry , inherit not only his title but his fleet of trading ship . She would frequently stop ship go through through pee off her estate to wring money or a portion of their lading for guaranteed safe passage – earning her the nickname the Pirate Queen . What it ’s like today : If you need to stick around at a castling that is n’t as frou - frou as the perfectly manicured Ashford Castle on this tilt , Ballynahinch is the country - quaint – but still luxury – castle for you . Go Salmon River fishing , wheel the body politic roads , or hike the besiege trails .

9. Hillsborough Royal Castle

Hillsborough , Northern Ireland , est 1770sThere are lots of Royals in the United Kingdom , but this one houses THE Royals when they fare to visit Northern Ireland . Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth has probably taken out her tumbler in this very complex . The castle is also the official residence of the Secretary of State of Northern Ireland , as well as any visiting international Guest of grandness . What it ’s like today : The property is undergo a renovation , called the Hillsborough Castle Project , to brush up up The Throne Room , Drawing Room , and Staircase Hall ’s original features – many of which were lose to fire in 1934 .

8. Crom Castle

County Fermanagh , Northern Ireland , Est 1837If you ca n’t inhabit with royal line , will nobility do ? Book a long weekend at Crom and the Lord and Lady of this elevated Victorian style who live on - web site will personally receive you . Airs of grandeur fence in the property , as segment of the castling were work on by the same designer who design portion of Buckingham Palace itself , Edward Blore . What it ’s Like Today : Today the rook sees regular visitors , hymeneals , is the internet site of the BBC comedy dramaBlandingson BBC , and belike more Conan the Barbarian references than anywhere else . you could also travel to the ruins of the former castle nearby .

7. Leap Castle

County Offaly , Republic of Ireland , est 1250The land site of many panicky shade hunters seem into the camera close enough for you to count the pearl of sweat on their upper lip , Leap castle has inspired countless extrasensory investigation visits because of its bloody chronicle , which just keeps giving . It ’s build on a site in the beginning used by druids during initiation ceremonies ; one brother killed another while he was pass on a mass in what is now know as " The Bloody Chapel , ” a little girl fell to her death from the battlement , and a resident by chance summon some variety of smell from the underworld that people keep comparing to a sheep . Spooky . What it ’s like today : Still moderately freaking haunted ! you could visit the castling by designation only , but maybe leave the ouija board at home .

6.Bunratty Castle

County Clare , Republic of Ireland est - in the beginning 1250 , current looping 1425You’d cerebrate a castle would only have to be laid to waste once , or at most twice , before its inhabitants suffer the subject matter . But the current Bunratty castle is really the 4th loop of this fortress , due to warring clans of Irish and English over the one C . Maybe its beingness upon a former Viking trading camp had something to do with all that bad luck . What it ’s like today : There are so many castles in Ireland to see , but not all of them sustain the hope of indulging you in a medieval banquet . Yup , you could book a spread at Bunratty , and you ’ll be expect on while you sit family style at long tables , ripping into turkey leg , fresh bread , and Pastinaca sativa soup .

5. Castle Ward House

County Down , Northern Ireland , est 1760sIf you ’re a filmmaker look for a speckle to pip the 80 trillionth Jane Austen - barrack cinema , look no further than Castle Ward House . The planetary house is famous for architecturally being a Frankenstein ’s monster character of hybrid , if Frankenstein ’s monster was made of manner models alternatively of dead Goth , because this place is so dang pretty . Because the lord and lady of the home had differing tastes , the mansion ’s outward window dressing is make in a Classical style complete with columns , while the back of the house overlooking the lake and patched countryside is Georgian Gothic with crenellation – a quirk that also reflects the house ’s interiors as well . Marriage is compromise , unless you may get what you want . What it ’s like today : There ’s a destiny of nerveless stuff to do around here – like checking out the old - fashioned laundry , corn , & saw manufacturing plant , the farmyard , and parkland walks – but you ’ll have to pick your jaw up off the floor after call for a look at this shoes first . Oh , and get ready to gross out out : the castle ’s farmhouse also doubles as Winterfell inGame of Thrones .

4. Dunluce Castle

County Antrim , Northern Ireland , est 1500ishWith the dangerously high Dunluce Castle face steep drops into the sea on three slope , we trust that once upon a meter , no one was banking on sneaking into any tower using human hair . The castle ’s history and the ocean are interlace – take the fable of the intact kitchen fall off into the sea one night ( good-for-nothing , midnight snacker ) , and the very real hoarded wealth - laden wreck of a ship , the Girona , from the Spanish Armada crashing on the rock music nearby . What it ’s like today : While the crumbling ruins of Dunluce still place upright today , preserved by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency , they will surely live on forever through the castle ’s own mobile telephone app . Yup , this castle has an app with a thumping 500 downloads . For a more personal touch , you may prefer for guided tours which can be arranged at the visitant ’s center . No matter what you decide , be sure to stay for golden hour , when the Sunday sets over the ruin pillar .

3. Ashford Castle

County Mayo , Republic of Ireland , Est 1228Pristine lawn , dreamy vines crawling up the side , towboat and turrets – yes , Ashford looks like it ’s a few whistle timberland creature short of a queen tarradiddle , but keep in judgement that the castle changed hand many multiplication over the years in typically bloody , knightly fashion before its genteel reincarnation into a five - whiz a hotel in 1939 . A few big name have had their mean solar day here , as the property was once owned by the Guinness family – yes , that Guinness fellowship . Also , Pierce Brosnan got espouse there , and your mom was believably really sad about it!What it ’s like today : Nowadays , Ashford is a luxury hotel that is turn over the superlative of castle living . On Hogwarts Halloween night , Thomas Kyd with allowances as big as your monthly paycheck descend in their wizarding robes for masking of the Harry Potter film . For the adults , pretending you ’re some sort of king has never been easy because you’re able to practice falconry on the assumption .

2. Blarney Castle

County Cork , Republic of Ireland , est 1446The bountiful draw here , obviously , is the allure of buss the Blarney Stone . There are many different legend as to how the Lucy Stone made its way to the castle , like the one about the goddess Clíodhna , faggot of the banshees , notify the detergent builder of the castle , Cormac Laidir McCarthey , to kiss the gem on his way to royal court for the gift of eloquence , after which he subsequently incorporated it into the battlements for on - demand good luck . No matter what the legend , everyone ’s in agreement that snog the stone is say to bestow Morgan Freeman degree of eloquence . What It ’s like today : you’re able to visit the grounds and the rook and kiss the Blarney Stone yourself , if you ’re okay with hanging upside down over a 10 - story drop to lay one on the rock . If that sounds appall to you and you’re able to give to skip the talent of smooth - talk , check out the castle ’s extensive grounds , which include a garden of toxic plants like opium , wolf’s bane , mandrake , and ricin , to name a few . These plants were used for medicinal purposes in the Middle Ages , a time when " it will either obliterate you or cure you " was a risk worth look at .

1. The Rock of Cashel

County Tipperary , Republic of Ireland , Oldest building established in 1100If you ’re go away to go to one medieval castle , you should likely make it the Rock of Cashel , one of the most visited heritage sites in all of Ireland . The Rock is the bad one – a walled complex consisting of a chapel service , cathedral , and the castle , all nestled together on a plateau to scratch every medieval castle scabies you ’ve ever had in one go . There ’s a batch not far away from the castling with a large gap at the fundament called the Devil ’s Bit . Legend has it the ogre broke his teeth take a bite out of the mountain and the Rock of Cashel fall from his mouth to where it stands today . What it ’s like today : The Rock is one of the most visited heritage site in all of Ireland for right cause ; it ’s the whole package . The castle grounds are opened all twelvemonth for visitant with free entrance the first Wednesday of every calendar month , and is a five - minute walk from the township of Cashel , where you may chatter the replication Folk Village depicting former country life in Ireland .