1611
Co. Fermanagh
Crom Castle
The seat of the Earls Erne on the shores of Upper Lough Erne, originally established in 1611 during the Plantation of Ulster by Michael Balfour.
1420s
Co. Fermanagh
Enniskillen Castle
Founded in the 1420s by Hugh 'the Hospitable' Maguire, ruler of the Gaelic Maguire clan, guarding one of the few passes into Ulster via the River Erne.
1618
Co. Fermanagh
Monea Castle
Built for Malcolm Hamilton and completed in 1618, Monea has a distinctly Scottish appearance with corner turrets at one end of a rectangular four-storey building and two massive round towers with angular tops flanking the entrance at the other, making it one of the best-preserved plantation castles in Fermanagh..
1612
Co. Fermanagh
Tully Castle
Built between 1612 and 1615 for Scottish planter Sir John Hume on the southern shore of Lower Lough Erne near Blaney, Tully Castle is a well-preserved example of an early Plantation-of-Ulster fortified house, with an adjoining bawn and a recreated 17th-century garden..
13thc.
Co. Galway
Athenry Castle
A dramatic three-storey hall-keep built to guard a strategic ford on the Clareen River, at the heart of the walled Norman town of Athenry.
15thc.
Co. Galway
Aughnanure Castle (in ruins)
A six-storey tower house built by the O'Flaherty clan ('the Fighting O'Flahertys'), who dominated the region from the 14th to 17th centuries, occupying land near the banks of Lough Corrib.
1520
Co. Galway
Dunguaire Castle
Built in 1520 by the O'Hynes clan on the shores of Galway Bay near Kinvara, its name means 'the Fort of Guaire', after the legendary 6th-century King of Connacht, Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin.
15thc.
Co. Galway
Dunsandle Castle
A 15th-century tower house near Athenry associated with the Daly family, illustrating the network of minor Gaelic and Anglo-Norman tower houses that once studded the east Galway countryside surrounding the larger Athenry Castle..
1236
Co. Galway
Loughrea Castle (Cloghan Castle)
Built in 1236 by Richard de Burgh, Lord of Connaught, as part of the Anglo-Norman consolidation of the region around Loughrea, an important market town that grew up around the de Burgh stronghold and later medieval friary..
16thc.
Co. Galway
Menlo Castle
A picturesque riverside ruin on the banks of the River Corrib just outside Galway city, Menlo Castle was the seat of the powerful Blake family, one of the 'Tribes of Galway'.
17thc.
Co. Galway
Portumna Castle
Built by Richard de Burgh, 4th Earl of Clanricarde, as the power base of the de Burgo (Burke) family, it combines defensive medieval features with early Renaissance symmetry and formal gardens, making it a unique transitional example of early-17th-century Irish architecture.
16thc.
Co. Kerry
Ballybunion Castle
Built by the Fitzmaurice family (Geraldines of West Limerick) on an earlier promontory fort site, the four-storey tower house features a rare anti-clockwise spiral staircase and a large basement built for siege supplies.
16thc.
Co. Kerry
Ballycarbery Castle (in ruins)
First fortified in 1398 by Carberry O'Shea and later held by the MacCarthy Mór clan, Ballycarbery's present ruins date to the 16th century.
1490s
Co. Kerry
Carrigafoyle Castle
Built by Conor Liath O'Connor Kerry in the 1490s and standing 86 feet high, Carrigafoyle commanded the shipping lanes on the Shannon Estuary supplying Limerick, earning the nickname 'guardian of the Shannon'.
1831
Co. Kerry
Dromore Castle (County Kerry)
Designed by architect Thomas Deane for the Mahony family overlooking the Kenmare River, Dromore's neo-Gothic design — including a round tower wing with a spiral staircase — inspired the 1892 ballad 'The Castle of Dromore'.
15thc.
Co. Kerry
Listowel Castle (in ruins)
The last Geraldine stronghold to hold out against Queen Elizabeth I's forces, Listowel Castle fell after a 28-day siege on 5 November 1600 during the First Desmond Rebellion.
15thc.
Co. Kerry
Ross Castle (in ruins)
Built by the O'Donoghue Mór clan on the shores of Lough Leane in Killarney National Park, Ross Castle was among the last strongholds in Ireland to fall to Cromwell's forces, only captured after artillery was floated up the River Laune by boat.
17thc.
Co. Kildare
Kilkea Castle
Founded in 1180 by Sir Walter de Riddlesford and later held for over 700 years by the FitzGerald Earls of Kildare, it is one of Ireland's oldest continuously inhabited castles.
13thc.
Co. Kildare
Maynooth Castle
Founded around 1203 by Maurice FitzGerald, it became the principal seat of the powerful FitzGerald Earls of Kildare, one of the largest and most important Anglo-Norman castles in Ireland.
16thc.
Co. Kildare
White's Castle
Built around 1417-1430 by the Earl of Kildare to guard the crossing of the River Barrow, White's Castle stands directly beside Athy's main bridge in the centre of town.
16thc.
Co. Kilkenny
Clara Castle
Built by the Shortall family, who occupied it until around 1640, Clara Castle near Kilkenny city is considered one of the best-preserved tower houses in Ireland, retaining much of its original oak panelling and internal fittings.
14thc.
Co. Kilkenny
Foulksrath Castle
A 14th-century Anglo-Norman tower house near Jenkinstown, Foulksrath was bought from the Swift family by An Óige (Irish Youth Hostel Association) in 1946 and reopened in 1948 as the oldest youth hostel in Ireland, complete with spiral staircases and a great hall with an immense fireplace.
13thc.
Co. Kilkenny
Grannagh Castle (Granagh Castle)
Built by the Anglo-Norman le Poer family on the banks of the River Suir opposite Waterford city, on the site of an earlier Gaelic fort called Dún Bhrain, it passed to the powerful Butler Earls of Ormond in 1375 and became a key symbol of their power in the south-east.