Dromore Castle:  Does it Look Familiar? You May Have Seen It Before!

Dromore Castle can be found in the County Limerick, in the province of Munster. This castle is a good journey from Dublin Airport, but you should be able to make the drive in under three hours.

The route from Dublin follows the M7 to Limerick, and the N69 out of Limerick toward Askeaton and Dromore Castle.     

Things to Know About Dromore Castle

Here are some fun facts about this amazing Irish landmark.  Hopefully they will entice you to pay a visit in person!

But if that is not possible, you can always use them to impress your friends with your knowledge of one of the most-visited attractions in Ireland.

• Built in the Gothic Revival style in the early 19th century, Dromore Castle is an iconic landmark in County Limerick.

• The castle was originally built for the Earl of Limerick.  It was abandoned during World War I and began to slip into ruin.

• In the 1980s the castle was featured in the movie comedy “High Spirits,” directed by Neil Jordan.

• Until 1993, the castle remained in the hands of his heirs, although it now belongs to a private investment company.  We hear there are plans to restore it to its original splendor.

• Dromore Castle is an architecturally interesting structure. It was built in the Gothic Revival style between 1868 and 1874.

• The castle's architect was Edward William Godwin. He was commissioned for the project by the original owner of the Castle, the Earl of Limerick.

• The castle boasts three stories. Unfortunately, it was designed with medieval history in mind. While it was suited for medieval transport, it didn't accommodate the larger carriages used toward the end of the 19th century.

• Godwin spent just as much time focused on the interior of the castle as he did on the exterior. He even designed furniture specifically for the castle, and choose the colors of furnishings and textiles.

• Godwin's Eagle Chair, which he designed for Dromore, was recently sold at a Sotheby's auction. The lone chair was sold for a staggering £30,000!

• The Earl of Limerick didn't live at the Castle for long. By World War I, the castle was abandoned. It was sold before the advent of World War II.

• Believe it or not, the roof of the castle was removed completely in 1950. This was done specifically so that the home couldn't be taxed! By local law, only homes with roofs need to be taxed. 

• The Castle is still in ruin today. The owners of the castle live nearby in a lodge house and have plans to renovate the castle at some point.

• While the castle is private property, you can get close enough to see it. Entering the home is generally not permitted. 

• Were you to enter the structure, you might peer up and see a huge chunk of the staircase missing. The great room still remains, as does the enormous fireplace which was one the showstopper of the castle. 

You can find much more about this special Irish landmark from Weebly.com.

That Was Fun!  Where Can I See More?

Great question! As you can see, exploring the castles of Ireland offers many opportunities for enjoying an Irish experience and expressing your personal Irish side!

For more information of this kind, you might pay a visit to our section on Ireland Sightseeing here!

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