Dunguaire Castle – project 52 #28
Dunguaire Castle Kinvara Co Galway
Photo: f/9, 1/500sec, ISO-400, @14 mm.
On a recent trip to Galway I managed to fit in a visit to Dunguaire Castle, which is located just outside the village of Kinvara. Dunguire Castle which is a “tower house” was built in 1520 AD by the Hynes clan who is believed to be associated with the area going back to 662 AD. Just to the north east of the Castle is the ruins of a ring fort where Archioligists believe the legendary King of Connacht, Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin originally came from.
View from the courtyard (including lens flare!)
Photo: f/11, 1/320 sec, ISO-400, @10 mm.
The poet Oliver St. John Gogarty bought Dunguaire Castle in 1924 and began to restore the Castle. Gogarty established the castle as a meeting place for the founders of the Celtic revival at the time, W.B. Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, Lady Gregory and John Millington synge to name a few.
View of Kinvara from the rooftop parrapet of the tower
View out to Galway bay from the rooftop parrapet
Photo: f/13, 1/125 sec, ISO-100, @10 mm. Photo: f/13, 1/125 sec, ISO-100, @10 mm.
It was a scorcher of a day when I visited Dunguaire Castle and it was full of visitors and forgein tourists. There was a busload from Ballina arriving at the Castle when I was leaving. Of course the Mayo polo shirt was a giveaway as I was stopped by them and quized about the upcoming Connacht Final, and we were in “enemy territory” too!
Living quarters in Dunguire Castle
Photo: f/6.3, 1/60 sec, ISO-800, -2 EV, @10 mm.
Dunguaire Castle is open daily from April through to October from 10 AM to 5 Pm and only costs €6 per adult. You don’t need to book in advance to visit the Castle during the day, though it is quite a busy visitor attraction during the summer months. The is a large car park about 100 yrds from the Castle towards Kinvara village on the opposite side of the road and is free parking.
Banquet Hall Dunguaire Castle
Photo: f/4, 1/60 sec, ISO-400, @10 mm.
If you would like to sample what a banquet was like back in the 1500’s, Dunguaire Castle Banquet takes place every evening from mid April to mid October. You will however have to book in advance, banquets take place at 5.30 and 8.45 and are hugely popular with tourists! For more information and to book a reservation for a Dunguaire Castle Banquet, visit Shannon Heritage.
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- Dunguaire Castle Kinvara Co Galway
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- Project 52 #28 Dunguaire Castle Kinvara Co Galway
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- Dunguaire Castle Kinvara Co Galway
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- Banquet Hall Dunguaire Castle
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- View of Kinvara from the rooftop parrapet of the tower
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- View out to Galway bay from the rooftop parrapet
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- View from the courtyard (including lens flare)
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- Sleeping quarters at Dunguaire Castle
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- Living quarters in Dunguire Castle
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- Access to the outside parrapet at the top of the Castle
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- Spy hole facing south at the top of the Castle
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- Facing south on top of the Castle
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- Spy hole facing east at the top of the Castle
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- Facing north from the top of the Castle
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- Some of the artwork in the Castle
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- Old map of the Castle
Dunguaire Castle is another Castle marked off my list to visit and photograph. View my location map to see where I have visited to date.
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