Top 4 Castles around Drumbarna

The Drumbarna area is rich in history. Old Castle Archdale, built in the 1600s, was captured during the Irish Rebellion of 1641 and later destroyed by fire. Tully Castle Ruins, a fortified house from the same period, was attacked and burned on Christmas Eve in 1641 and never reoccupied. Necarne Castle, once known as Irvine Castle, even served as a military hospital during WWII.

Yes, Tully Castle Ruins is noted as family-friendly. It features a visitor's centre in a restored farmhouse with an exhibition telling local stories related to the castle, offering an engaging experience for all ages. The Castle Archdale Courtyard Buildings also host exhibitions sometimes, detailing their history as a WWII RAF base, which can be interesting for families.

The area around Drumbarna's castles offers various outdoor activities. You can find numerous running and hiking trails. For example, near Old Castle Archdale, there's the 'Old Castle Archdale – Rossmore Point Beacon loop'. Near Necarne Castle, you can explore the 'Necarne Woods via Necarne Castle' route. You can find more details on these and other routes in the Running Trails around Drumbarna and Hiking around Drumbarna guides.

Yes, there are easy hiking options. For instance, you can take the 'Old Archdale Castle via Tom's Island' route to reach Old Castle Archdale, or the 'Necarne Woods via Necarne Castle' route for Necarne Castle. There's also a short 'Tully Castle Ruins loop from Heron Island' for Tully Castle Ruins. These are detailed in the Easy hikes around Drumbarna guide.

Visitors appreciate the historical depth and the natural settings of the castles. The crumbling walls of Old Castle Archdale, perched on a forest clifftop, allow visitors to imagine life centuries ago. The area's appeal for historical and outdoor enthusiasts is highlighted by the community's positive feedback, with many photos shared and upvotes for these sites.

While the castles directly around Drumbarna are primarily ruins, the wider region of Ireland offers fully restored castles. For example, Dromoland Castle in County Clare is a five-star hotel and ancestral home of the O'Briens, offering a luxurious experience. You can find more information about Dromoland Castle on celticcastles.com.

While the castles directly in Drumbarna are more traditional in their historical significance, if you venture further into County Clare, you can find unique architecture. Newtown Castle in The Burren, for instance, is notable for its distinctive cylindrical shape and pyramidical base, dating back to the 16th century.

Old Castle Archdale was built in 1615 by an Englishman named John Archdale. It was captured during the Irish Rebellion of 1641 by Rory Maguire and later burnt out and abandoned during the Williamite Wars in 1689. It sits on a forest clifftop, distinguishing it from its 18th-century successor, Castle Archdale.

Tully Castle Ruins is a fortified house and bawn built for Sir John Hume. It was attacked and burned on Christmas Eve in 1641 by Rory Maguire, resulting in the massacre of its inhabitants. After this tragic event, the castle was never lived in again, leaving it as a poignant historical site.

While the castles directly around Drumbarna have their own local historical figures, if you look to County Clare, Leamaneh Castle is famously associated with Maire Rua (Mary of the red hair), a prominent figure from the O'Brien family in the late 1400s. Dromoland Castle was also the ancestral home of the O'Briens, descendants of Brian Boru, one of Ireland's last High Kings.

Necarne Castle, also known as Irvine Castle, is now a ruin. While the castle itself is closed to urban explorers and monitored by CCTV, the surrounding area offers walking routes. There is free parking available, and the area is known for its interesting horse farm nearby.

While the local castles are primarily historical, Old Castle Archdale is situated on a forest clifftop, offering a scenic backdrop. Further afield in County Clare, Gleninagh Castle and Dunguaire Castle both provide beautiful views over Galway Bay, though Gleninagh Castle cannot be entered.