Dunguaire Castle is located in the seaside town of Kinvara on the south coast of Galway Bay.
The building consists of a Tower House and retaining wall which have been preserved to an excellent standard.
Dunguaire Castle dates all the way back to the year 1520 when it was built by the Hynes clan. The castle changed hands in the 17th century when it came into the posession of the Martyn family.
The castle's excellent state is owed in no small part to the intervention of Irish writer Oliver St John Gogarty who purchased it in 1924. His restorations were wonderfully faithfull to the original construction. The castle then became a meeting place for the literary greats of Ireland such as George Bernard Shaw, Sean O'Casey, and of course Lady Augusta Gregory and W.B. Yeats who both lived nearby at Coole Park and Thoor Ballylee respectively.
Today Dunguaire is under the management of Shannon Heritage. A visit to the castle includes a guided tour, and if you really want the fully immersive experience, a night at the banquet where you will be provided with a delicious meal, information on the history of the castle, and of course plenty of entertainment from the singers, bards and musicians.
References
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Book a Tour or Banquet | Ireland | VIEW SOURCE |
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History of Dunguaire | Ireland | VIEW SOURCE |
