Dunamase Castle, built on a high limestone outcrop overlooking a flat plain, has been a ruin for almost 700 years, but is still worth seeing.
There is a magical atmosphere about the place, and magnificent views over the surrounding countryside.
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Charles Fort is a massive structure, with walls up to 6m thick and five defensive bastions around its perimeter. Its star shape provided better defenses than earlier round forts, and was a common style of fort throughout Europe and beyond.
Although much of it is in poor enough condition, battered by generations of battles, it is one of the best remaining examples of a star-shaped fort in Europe.
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Built around 1500, and a typical urban tower house of that time, Desmond Castle has had a varied, if not always illustrious, serving variously as a home, a prison, a workhouse, a tollhouse and now a museum.
It now houses a Wine Museum, documenting Ireland’s surprisingly extensive involvement in European wine making since as early as 1412.
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Duncannon Fort in Wexford is a star shaped fort which has had an important role in defending Waterford Port for more than 800 years.
While far from intact, enough remains of the fort to give a good idea of what it must have been like when filled with soldiers – and for small boys especially to enjoy climbing the wall and reliving the many battles fought here.
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Kilmainham Gaol (or Kilmainham Jail) has a central role in Irish political and social history and was the place of execution of leaders of many Irish rebellions.
It is still a grim place to-day, with loud echoes of the suffering that took place within its walls, but a visit is well worthwhile and puts a very human face on many of the tragic events in Ireland’s past.
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