Places to go > County Down > Dundrum Castle < Castles & Forts < Things to do

Castles & Forts: Beaumaris Castle, Wales Caernarfon Castle, Wales Caerphilly Castle, Wales Cardiff Castle, Wales Carew Castle, Wales Carreg Cennen Castle, Wales Carrickfergus Castle, N. Ireland Castell Coch, Wales Castell Dinas Bran, Wales Chirk Castle, Wales Cilgerran Castle, Wales Conwy Castle, Wales Denbigh Castle, Wales Dinefwr Castle, Wales Dundrum Castle, N. Ireland Dunluce Castle, N. Ireland Dunseverick Castle, N. Ireland Dunster Castle, England Enniskillen Castle, N. Ireland Harlech Castle, Wales Kidwelly Castle, Wales Pembroke Castle, Wales Powis Castle, Wales Raglan Castle, Wales Rhuddlan Castle, Wales Tretower Castle & Court, Wales ................................................. _________________________________

County Down attractions: Castle Ward Down Cathedral Down County Museum Dundrum Castle Exploris Aquarium Giant's Ring Grey Abbey Inch Abbey Legananny Dolmen Mount Stewart House & Gardens Nendrum Monastic Site North Down Heritage Centre Ulster Folk & Transport Museum ................................................. _________________________________

Dundrum Castle Dundrum, Co. Down, N. Ireland, UK. Tel. +44 (0) 28 9054 3034

	Dundrum Castle, © Northern Ireland Photos

Dundrum Castle sits high on the summit of a hill overlooking the coast in Dundrum village, County Down.

Built on the site of an earlier Irish fortification, the castle was once a mighty stronghold founded by the Norman conqueror John de Courcy, after his invasion of Ulster in 1177. De Courcy's successor, Hugh de Lacy, was responsible for adding most of the walls in the early 13th century, as well as the three storey cylindrical keep. The keep, which is also known as a donjon, is unusual in Ireland, and de Lacy's Welsh connections would explain the building's marked resemblance to Pembroke Castle in Wales. Captured by King John in 1210, the castle was subsequently held by the Earls of Ulster, and from the mid-14th century by the Magennises of Mourne.

The fortress continued to change ownership frequently, until it was finally dismantled by Cromwell's troops in 1652. The impressive ruins of today are partially surrounded by a dry moat, while the keep's parapet commands wonderful views over Dundrum Bay, the plains of Lecale, and the Mourne Mountains. Many of the trees surrounding the castle were planted by the Blundell family, who came into ownership of the estate in 1660. The Blundells also built a mansion in the southwest corner of the outer bailey that has since fallen into ruin.

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UK Castles & Forts in our Castles tour section:

Beaumaris Castle
Caernarfon Castle
Caerphilly Castle
Cardiff Castle
Carew Castle
Carreg Cennen Castle
Carrickfergus Castle
Castell Coch
Castell Dinas Bran
Chirk Castle
Cilgerran Castle
Conwy Castle
Denbigh Castle
Dinefwr Castle
Dundrum Castle
Dunluce Castle
Dunseverick Castle
Dunster Castle
Enniskillen Castle,
Harlech Castle,
Kidwelly Castle
Pembroke Castle
Powis Castle
Raglan Castle
Rhuddlan Castle
Tretower Castle
Edinburgh Castle

Other Northern Ireland travel related links:

Northern Ireland hotel
Northern Ireland tour
Northern Ireland cottage
Northern Ireland hostel