Educational European Tours: Irish Castles on Our 2018 Tour

When you think of visiting Ireland you likely picture the lush green terrain quite likely with a stone wall or even a one of Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions, a castle. Ireland is home to numerous castles and castle ruins, some truly iconic – like Blarney Castle, and others lesser known but all part of a rich history.

The Rock of Cashel (County Tipperary)
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On Day 4 of our tour we’ll stop at two ancient castles, the first being the Rock of Cashel. This ancient fortress was donated to the Catholic Church at the start of the 12^th century by the King of Munster, so it is often thought of more as a religious monument than a castle.

The oldest and tallest part of the castle, as with many Irish castles, is the 90 foot tall round tower. Cormac’s Chapel dates from the 12^th century and features vaulted ceilings, decorative carvings over the doorways and remnants of multiple frescoes. A cathedral built in the 13^th century and the Hall of the Vicars built in the 15^th century add to the grandeur of the Rock of Cashel. The museum and a short film will offer more background on the Rock of Cashel’s history.

Blarney Castle (County Cork)

Our second castle stop on Day 4 is the famous Blarney Castle. Though most famous for the tradition of kissing the Blarney Stone to acquire the “gift of gab” or eloquent speech, Blarney Castles grounds also add to this tourist spot’s allure.

photo by Christie Brook

The Blarney Stone is actually a block of limestone on the battlements of Blarney Castle. To kiss the stone you must first go to the top of the castle, then lean over the edge of the parapet backwards. There are rails to hold on to and someone to hold on to you as you perform this somewhat awkward feat.

Aside from the famous stone, the view from the top of the castle is quite breathtaking. The grounds also boast extensive gardens, including a poison garden. The original stone castle dates form the 13^th century, but was rebuilt in the 15^th century. Our tour will also include a stop at nearby Blarney Woolen Mills.

Bunratty Castle (County Clare)

On our way from Killarney to Limerick on Day 6 we’ll stop at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. The present castle was constructed in the 15^th century by the MacNamara family, but later was held by the O’Brien family, who expanded the castle in the following century. Many of the rooms of the castle have been restored and are open to visitors, and the view from the upper portions of the castle is quite lovely.

photo by Christie Brook


photo by Christie Brook

Beyond the castle itself, the site also features a folk park with multiple Irish cottages visitors can tour. Shops, other buildings and costumed characters enhance the 19^th century replica village of the folk park. There is also a fairy village for in the wooded section of the folk park and a walled garden at Bunratty House.

King John’s Castle (Limerick)

King John’s Castle in Limerick is a 13^th century riverside fortress. The Norman structure was built on the orders of King John of England and thus named for him. The castle came under attack as the city was besieged several times in the 17^th century, most notably in 1642 when Catholic troops attacked 600 English Protestants who had taken refuge in the castle during the 1641 rebellion. A section of the wall had to be pulled down later as its foundations were weakened in the sieges.

I’ll be posting later in the month about other castles that would make good free time outings during our tour, as well as, sharing some great posts on these castles on our tour's Facebook page.

One other castle we'll see on tour, which I foolishly did not include in this post, is Dublin Castle. Full of history, Dublin Castle was built in the early 13th century. It served to imprison many notable figures in Irish history, housed the provisional government in 1922, and today is used to host official state visits.