I have just realised that I've published a series of castle and abbey posts from last year's trip to Ireland all at once, and today is another castle post. I actually visited this on my birthday last year and can hardly believe that it was a year ago. After the visit to the Rock of Cashel and Hore Abbey, we drove over to visit Dunamase Castle. Dunamase Castle is now in ruins, but it was worth the visit. The visit to the castle and parking was free, and it's a short walk from the parking up to the castle, which is built on and around a hillside. The castle has a rich history. Dunamase Castle was built in the 12th century on the site of a 9th century fort. It was passed to the Anglo-Normans after Aoife (the daughter of MacMurrough) was married to Strongbow. It was then passed through marriage to Marshals in the 13th century and then to the Mortimers in the 14th century.
After Mortimer was executed for treason by order of King Edward III, it changed hands many times. It ended up in the possession of the Irish O'Mores, who were credited with its destruction. In the Cromwell wars, it was not considered a threat because it was in ruin. At the end of the 18th century, the hall was partially restored as a residence, but it was let to fall into decay after the owner's death.
Barbican (foreground), main gatehouse (mid ground), and the Great Hall (at hill top)
The castle entrance is through the outer barbican. This leads to an inner triangular barbican with the main gatehouse at the other end. The inner barbican is surrounded by a wall, and through the main gatehouse is the Great Hall, surrounded by a wall. There is an earlier gate tower in the inner barbican. The main gatehouse provides high level defense and a porticullis with a murder hole. Remains of a drawbridge can be seen along the passage. At the top of the hill is the two storey Great Hall, which was built in the 12th century but contains work dating from the 13th century.
The main and second gatehouse, pictured from the lower ward
My photographs from the visit to Castle Dunamase are below.
The main gatehouse between the inner barbican and lower ward, looking up to the Great Hall
Looking down the hill to the inner barbican
Wildflowers
Ruins - probably the other gatehouse
The Great Hall at the top of the hill
The Great Hall
Views from the top of Dunamase Castle
Wall area at the Great Hall
Dunamase Castle ruins and views
Great Hall section of wall
Irish farms from Dunamase Castle
Remains of the main gatehouse
Doorways
Dunamase Castle was quiet when we visited; we were the only visitors. It was extremely windy, and the rain had mostly ceased when we visited it. This was a nice visit because most of the other places to see in Ireland charge a fee. This was the last visit on the road trip today, and we headed off to Kilkenny where we would stay the night.
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