Perched on the shores of Galway Bay, Dunguaire Castle is one of the most beautiful fortresses in Ireland. The stone tower house has a long history dating back to medieval times and has inspired some of Ireland’s best writers.
Walk around the area, visit the museum or dress up for a themed dinner: here is everything you can do on your visit to Dunguiare Castle:
Story
Dunguaire Castle was first built in 1520 as a tower house with fortified walls along the shores of Galway Bay. The castle was built by the Hynes clan who were descendants of Guaire, the King of Connacht who died in 663. The castle takes its name from this legendary family connection, with dun meaning “fortress” in Irish.
In the 16th century, Martyn clan took ownership of the castle and remained there until it was sold to Oliver St. John Gogarty in 1924. Gogarty was trained as a doctor and also served as a senator, but the passion of his life was true for poetry. After restoring the 75-foot tower and surrounding walls, Dunguaire Castle became a well-known gathering place for Irish literary society. Dublin literati, including WB Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, and JM Synge, came to the old fort to enjoy a country retreat and train with Gogarty’s legendary wit.
These writers continued to immortalize the castle in their work, and Yeats in particular makes reference to King Guaire in several of his poems.
Christobel Lady Ampthill purchased Dunguaire in 1954 and completed the restoration. Today, the castle is a popular historical and entertainment attraction owned by Shannon Heritage.
Things to do in Dunguaire
Dunguaire Castle is one of Ireland’s most photographed castles for good reason: Facing Galway Bay, the landscape of sparkling waters and low hills provides an unforgettable backdrop for the historic and charming tower. Take the time to climb the ridge and admire the scenery, even before entering.
The castle itself has been restored and turned into a small museum. It is possible to climb the tower and learn about the history of the structure. In fact, each floor of the museum has drawings and exhibits showing what life would have been like in Dunguaire during several different time periods. This part of the castle is open for visits from April to mid-September between 10 am and 4 pm
While it is always a lovely stop during the day, Dunguaire is most popular at night when a medieval feast is held within the fortified walls. Live performers provide entertainment, share stories and songs, as well as read poetry from literary greats who once also gathered within the castle walls itself.
No banquet would be complete without food. The evening begins with a glass of mead, before moving on to a multi-course dinner served by candlelight. (But although the costumes date back to the Middle Ages, the food is typical Irish fare of vegetable soup, chicken in mushroom sauce, and apple pie.) The banquet is held throughout the year at 5:30 pm and 8:45 pm and reservations are required.
Whether you’re staying for a long visit or just stopping by to snap some photos, you can always take part in a fun local folk tale. King Guaire was known for his generosity, which is rumored to continue even now, more than 1,000 years after his death. Popular legend says that if you stop at the castle gate and ask a question, you will have your answer at the end of the day.
How to get to Dunguaire
The castle is located along the Wild Atlantic Way, just outside the village of Kinvara, on the shores of Galway Bay. The best way to get there is by car while driving down the road to Galway. Once you pass the castle, you can park on the side of the road (there is no parking).
You can also take the Eireann bus to Kinvara and book a local taxi to take the rest of the way or walk the so-called Red Route from The Quay to Dunguaire Castle.
What else to do nearby
Part of the beauty of Dunguaire Castle is the unspoiled landscape that surrounds it, which means that there is nothing else directly next to the castle. However, the postcard-perfect town of Kinvara is less than a mile away. Here you will find small shops, traditional pubs and restaurants, as well as historic thatched houses.
For a quiet getaway nearby, stop at the secluded Trácht Beach for tranquil views of Galway Bay.
The castle is also a 30-minute drive from Burren National Park. The area is known for its otherworldly landscape that looks more like the surface of the moon than the Emerald Isle. There are several hiking trails that lead through the nature reserve where you can observe the unique limestone formations, as well as spot wildlife along the trails.
