Reign over the Wild Atlantic Way
Ireland is known for its castles and the Wild Atlantic Way has a plethora of places to admire.
Located about 7km from Schull in West Cork is Rossbrin Castle. Storms in 1905 and 1963 have undermined the structure but is steeped in history from battles to literature. There is lots to learn about this structure.
Also in Cork is the ruins of Dunboy Castle, located at the entrance to Berehaven Bay, about 4km southwest of Castletownbere.
Discover Ireland has a brief history of the place: “The fortress was once used by the O’Sullivan Beare clan to protect the bay. Taxes from fishing boats that landed in the harbour were collected here. In the famous Siege of Dunboy in 1692, the English troups burned Dunboy Castle to the ground. On the way to Dunboy Castle you pass Puxley Mansion, which was burned down by the IRA in 1920. In the early 2000s, restoration work began on the venerable building (to become a hotel). However, the project was abandoned in 2011.”
Wynn Castle in Kerry is another ruined waiting to be seen just outside the village of Glenbeigh although not much remains of it.
The folks The Ring of Kerry had this to say: “The walls of Wynn’s Castle dating back to 1797 are still standing, beyond that it's up to your imagination and the pictures below. The view of Glenbeigh and its environs can be seen from this old ruin and memories of days gone by can be visualised. It is worth a quick look but don’t expect too much.”
Clare is the next stop on our journey. It’s Doonagore Castle.
Overlooking Doolin and the Atlantic Ocean, it’s a round 16th century tower house with a small walled enclosure. The castle is a private holiday home and not open to the public. However, it is still a popular spot to visit as it has a picturesque appearance.
Clifden Castle in Galway is another gem along the Wild Atlantic Way route.
It was built in 1812 by John D’Arcy (1785 – 1839), who founded Clifden town. The estate originally covered more than 17,000 acres. However, the family lost many of these acres when they became during the Famine.
Galwaytourism.ie has said: “The castle has changed hands many times over the years and the land around it has been divided up and sold leading Clifden Castle to fall into ruin in the latter part of the 19th century. The present-day castle has only the stone shell remaining and is partly overgrown with thick ivy.”
They added: “The castle was built in a Gothic Revival style and is accessed through a gateway arch from the Sky Road leading out about 2.5kms west from Clifden. Follow a rough winding trail down to the castle passing five standing stones along the way.
“Standing stones are a prehistoric relic from ancient Ireland and it is believed that there were used as places rituals and other ceremonies. However, D’Arcy had these stones erected as decoration to imitate ancient standing stones which feature throughout Ireland.”
Further north in Donegal lies Doe Castle, a medieval stronghold of the MacSweeneys. Located at Sheephaven Bay, it’s a fortress that was built in the 1420s and for nearly 200 years it served as home, refuge and bastion for at least 13 MacSweeney chiefs.
The OPW said: “An exquisite carved and ornamented Mac Sweeney grave-slab, dating from 1544, is on show inside the tower house. Display panels onsite chronicle the castle’s history in fascinating detail.”