This fascinating castle was built in the 15th century by the Bishop of Ferns on the site of a previous castle of the 12th century. The original castle was of the motte-and-bailey type, but in the following decades it was transformed into a moated courtyard type castle, with a gate-tower and a drawbridge.
The Bishop of Ferns built the new castle and incorporated the gate-tower. He used the new building as a defended residence.
The tower had a dungeon on the ground floor which was used as a prison, and has a bartizan all around the top like a crown.
We visited this castle for the first time on June 2nd, 2001.
|