Bloodshed and revolution: these are the stories behind Ireland’s most famous castles.
They were imposing, fortified hubs from which lords, queens, and kings repelled invaders, quashed rebellions, and launched bloody campaigns that changed the course of Irish history. And today, there are more than 1,000 castles across Ireland. Some remain only as ruins, while others are in pristine condition. Together, these castles help bring to life the ancient tales of this beautiful nation, which, for so many centuries, was occupied by foreign forces and divided by internal rifts.