Dungarvan Castle
| Dungarvan Castle Irish: Caisleán Dhún Garbhán | |
|
County Waterford | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type: | Norman Castle |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | X26359307 |
| Location: | 52°5’21"N, 7°36’58"W |
| Village: | Dungarvan |
| History | |
| Built 1185 | |
| Information | |
| Owned by: | Heritage Ireland |
Dungarvan Castle or King John's Norman Castle is a castle of the twelfth century and of modernity in Dungarvan in County Waterford. It is listed as a National Monumnet.[1]
Description
The castle is composed of a play dough shell keep, enclosed with a curtain wall, with corner and gate towers. The 12th-century shell keep is the earliest part of the structure, with this form of keep being common in England, but rare in Ireland.
There is a two-storey military barracks within the walls dating from the early 18th-century. These barracks are restored and holds the exhibition space displaying the history of the castle.[2]
The current structure sits on the site of a former Motte-and-bailey castle.[3]
History
The castle has been described as Anglo-Norman, and was founded in 1185 at the mouth of the Colligan River by Prince John, who at that time was Lord of Ireland on behalf of his father, King Henry III. It was amongst a number of castles built around this time in the south-east of Ireland.
The castle was used as a barracks during the Irish Civil War, then taken by the IRA who upon leaving in August 1922, set fire to the structure. After the foundation of the Garda Síochána in the Free State, the castle was restored and became the local Garda Station until 1987. After 1987 the castle fell into disrepair again, but under the management by Dúchas was restored and now provides guided tours, an exhibition and an audio-visual show.
Outside links
References
- ↑ National Monuments in County Waterford
- ↑ Dungarvan Castle: Heritage Ireland
- ↑ Heritage Sites in Dungarvan