Walk the castle ruins
Now a roofless ruin, Dunboy Castle was the stronghold of the O'Sullivan Bere, a Gaelic clan chief, built to guard and defend the harbour of Berehaven. Much of the castle is destroyed today, but the ruins are open to the public.
Dunboy Castle
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About
A dramatic ruined castle on the shore of Berehaven Bay, once the stronghold of the O'Sullivan Bere clan and the scene of a famous 1602 siege. It is a free, open-access ruin reached by a short walk from a roadside parking bay.
Things to Do
Trace the Siege of Dunboy (1602)
In the summer of 1602 Elizabeth I sent a 5,000-strong army under Sir George Carew against the castle. After a two-week artillery bombardment its 143-man garrison was overwhelmed and the 58 survivors were executed in the nearby market square, breaking the power of the O'Sullivan Bere.
Take in the bay views
The ruins sit at the entrance to Berehaven Bay, about 4 km southwest of Castletownbere, on an exposed promontory looking out over the Atlantic. Allow roughly an hour for the stop.
Puxley Mansion on the approach
The road in passes Puxley Mansion, the 19th-century big house burned down by the IRA in 1920; a later restoration to turn it into a hotel was abandoned in 2011.
Combine with Castletownbere and the Ring of Beara
The nearest town is Castletownbere, the peninsula's principal town and base of Ireland's largest whitefish fleet, with shops, cafes and seafood restaurants. Dunboy makes an easy stop on the Ring of Beara driving route.
Plan Your Visit
- Hours: Open-access ruins - the castle is open to the public, with no fixed opening hours.
- Admission: Free entry
- Parking: A small parking bay right by the castle, at the end of the road; the site is about 4 km southwest of Castletownbere.
- Food: None at the castle itself; nearby Castletownbere has shops, cafes and restaurants serving fresh seafood.
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