A rare 13th-century shell keep built c.1209 to guard the entrance to Dungarvan Harbour, later a British Army barracks, a Garda station and now a free heritage site with an indoor exhibition.
The earliest structure here is the polygonal shell keep, a rare building type in Ireland, built around 1209 to safeguard the entrance to Dungarvan Harbour. You cannot enter the keep, but the castle courtyard gives good views of it.
The castle is enclosed by a curtain wall with a corner tower and a gate tower. The courtyard is gravel with steps and uneven surfaces, so follow the paths and take care; enter through the main gate by the arched entryway.
Inside the two-storey military barracks, built in the first half of the 18th century, an exhibition traces the castle's history from medieval fortress and British Army/Royal Irish Constabulary base to local Garda Siochana headquarters. A lift reaches the first floor alongside the stairs.
One room of the barracks is an audio-visual theatre showing the castle's story. It is small, dark and a little noisy, so it may not suit everyone.
This corner tower houses another exhibition and is also used for weddings. It is the spot where heads were once displayed, now one of the site's most striking spaces.
Friendly, badge-wearing tour guides are on hand to show visitors around and answer questions, and they can supply an information map of the site.
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