Exploring Trim Castle
The largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland, Trim Castle was built by Hugh de Lacy when he was granted the Liberty of Meath by King Henry II in 1172. The construction of the massive three-storey keep began in 1176 on what was the site of an earlier wooden fortress and...Exploring Ross Castle
After a bit of a disappointing visit to Blarney Castle, and having already visited Kilkenny Castle and Rock of Cashel, I did wonder if maybe we had overdone it a little on the castles all in a row, despite my love for them. I hoped all the castle hopping wouldn’t take...Exploring Blarney Castle
Blarney Castle is actually the third structure to have been built on this site. Initially, in the 10th century, there was only a wooden hunting lodge on the grounds. Then in the early 13th-century, there was a small stone structure built. This was later torn apart and...Exploring the Rock of Cashel
Said to have been formed when the devil bit a big chunk out of the Slieve Bloom Mountains and then spat it out in disgust when he saw St. Patrick getting ready to build a great church, the Rock of Cashel set high on the limestone outcrop in the middle of pasture looks...Exploring Kilkenny Castle
Originally an Anglo-Norman stone castle, Kilkenny Castle was built in the 13th century by William Marshal, 4th Earl of Pembroke. In 1391, James Butler, the 3rd Earl of Ormond bought it and it became the primary Irish residence for his family for almost 600 years. It...
