Castles and Historic Sites in Co. Waterford
7 places
1.Ballysaggartmore Towers
A Gothic gateway to a mansion that was never built
A Gothic gateway of towers, battlements and an ornamental bridge, built in the 1830s to impress — for a mansion that was never built. It now frames a free 2km woodland loop just outside Lismore.
- Highlights
- Gothic gateway built in the 1830s for a house that was never started
- Twin battlemented towers, roofless gate lodges and an ornamental bridge over a ravine
- Easy 2km signposted woodland loop, 30–45 minutes
2.Carey's Castle
a woodland folly-castle 500m from the car park
A diminutive 19th-century folly-castle hidden in Coillte woodland beside the Glenary River, reached by a short 500m trail from the car park. Free to visit, with a picnic site at the trailhead.
- Highlights
- Miniature castle built by the Carey family of Clonmel schoolmasters
- Gothic windows, a Celtic round tower, a Norman keep and Romanesque arches
- Remnants of a walled garden to the south of the castle
3.Dunhill Castle
A 1200s tower house you can explore for free
A shattered 13th-century tower house on a ridge above the Anne Valley, reached by a flat, accessible riverside walk that the local community built from Dunhill village to the sea.
- Highlights
- Free entry, open all year round
- Norman tower house attributed to Robert le Poer, c. AD 1200
- Slighted by Cromwell's forces in 1650
4.Reginald’s Tower
Ireland's oldest civic building, 800 years old
A round 13th-century tower dominating Waterford's quayside, it is Ireland's oldest civic building, in continuous use for over 800 years and the only Irish monument to keep its Viking name.
- Highlights
- Ireland's oldest civic building, in continuous use for over 800 years
- Medieval stumble stairs built to trip attackers
- Woodstown Viking sword, kite brooch, gaming pieces and dog collar
- Facilities
- Good for kids
5.De La Poer Tower
climb a 1785 woodland folly for a five-county view
A 70 ft Georgian folly hidden in Portlaw's oak woods, De La Poer Tower is a free, climbable memorial with a 92-step spiral stair and sweeping five-county views.
- Highlights
- 70 ft memorial folly built in 1785
- Climb 92 stone steps to an open top
- Five-county views on a clear day
6.Dungarvan Castle
A rare c.1209 shell keep, free to enter
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.
- Highlights
- Rare polygonal shell keep, the oldest structure on site
- 18th-century military barracks with a history exhibition
- Audio-visual show inside the barracks
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
7.Ballinacourty Lighthouse
Guiding ships into Dungarvan Bay since 1858
Ballinacourty Point Lighthouse (officially Ballynacourty) has guided shipping into Dungarvan Bay since 1858. It is a compact limestone tower on a low, rocky headland beside the Gold Coast golf links — admired from the outside, as the tower itself is closed to the public.
- Highlights
- First lit 1 July 1858
- Designed by George Halpin
- 13 m tower of local limestone