Castles and Historic Sites in Co. Waterford
7 places
1.Ballysaggartmore Towers
Gateway to a never-built mansion
A pair of Gothic Revival follies hidden in woodland near Lismore — the extravagant gateway to a mansion that was never built. A short, free, and wonderfully atmospheric walk through an abandoned 19th-century dream.
- Highlights
- Gothic Revival towers draped in ivy and moss
- Stone bridge over a wooded ravine
- Ruined gate lodges open to explore
2.Carey's Castle
19th-century folly with round tower and Gothic windows
A fairy-tale castle ruin hidden in mixed woodland beside the Glenary River — just a 500m stroll from the car park, blending Gothic windows, a round tower, and Romanesque arches into one delightfully eccentric 19th-century folly.
- Highlights
- Eclectic architectural mix: round tower, Norman keep, Gothic & Romanesque arches
- Picturesque riverside setting in mixed woodland
- Only 500m easy walk from the car park
3.Dunhill Castle
Cromwellian siege tale of buttermilk betrayal
A dramatic 13th-century Norman tower house ruin perched on a rocky bluff high above the Anne Valley, free to visit and rich with tales of Cromwellian siege, betrayal, and buttermilk.
- Highlights
- Dramatic clifftop setting overlooking the Anne Valley
- Free, unstaffed ruin — visit anytime
- Part of the accessible Anne Valley Nature & Wildlife Walk
4.Reginald’s Tower
a Viking-age tower in use for over 800 years
Reginald's Tower has stood in continuous use for over 800 years at the apex of Waterford's Viking Triangle, and now holds the city's Viking Treasures collection. It is Ireland's oldest civic building and the only fully intact tower of the 23 that once defended the medieval city.
- Highlights
- Ireland's oldest civic building, in continuous use for over 800 years
- Only fully intact tower of the 23 medieval defences of Waterford
- Viking Treasures: kite brooch, gaming pieces, minted silver coins
- Facilities
- Good for kids
5.De La Poer Tower
92 steps to views over 5 counties
A haunting 1785 folly tucked deep in Portlaw Woods — climb its 92 stone steps for sweeping views across five counties from an open-air summit with no guardrails.
- Highlights
- 70-ft Georgian folly (1785) inspired by Irish round towers
- 92-step spiral staircase built from Clonea Castle stone
- Views across five counties from the open summit
6.Dungarvan Castle
a rare polygonal shell keep built by King John in 1209
A rare polygonal shell keep built c.1209 by King John's orders to guard Dungarvan Harbour — one of the few Norman royal castles in Ireland, now a free OPW heritage site with a compelling exhibition tracing 800 years of military and policing history.
- Highlights
- Rare polygonal shell keep — one of few in Ireland
- Free guided tours with passionate OPW guides
- Panoramic harbour views from the South West Tower
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
7.Ballinacourty Lighthouse
Only reachable by a shoreline scramble
A compact 1858 limestone lighthouse perched on the rocky shore of Dungarvan Bay, surrounded by a championship golf course and reachable only by a shoreline scramble — a raw, rewarding slice of the Waterford coast.
- Highlights
- 13-metre limestone tower built 1858, designed by George Halpin
- Flashing light pattern: two flashes every 10 seconds, visible 10 nautical miles
- Surrounded by the Gold Coast Golf Club — one of Ireland's most scenic courses