|
| |
Hiking, Biking, Boating, Touring,
Climbing, Riding, Flying, Running,
and Exploring in HOME AT FIRST's destinations.
ADVENTURE OF
THE MONTH—MAY, 2003
(1st of a series)
The classic castle, like great art, is difficult to define. Ask anyone to describe his or
her idealized castle, and you may get the same answer you commonly hear for great art:
"I know what I like, and I’ll know it when I see it."
We love castles—of all shapes and sizes
and all states of repair. We have our favorites, too, just like we have our favorite music
and painters. In this new series we will present castle we have enjoyed and hope our
enthusiasm compels the reader to make their own pilgrimage to these great shrines of
history and monuments to imagination.
Our first nomination—Central Ireland’s Dunguaire Castle—is
wonderfully photogenic, very accessible, never saw a major battle, housed no royalty, has
a pedigree dating to ancient Celtic clans, and, a century ago, contributed mightily to
Ireland’s literary revival. Today Dunguaire Castle remains a proponent of Celtic
legend and Irish fiction, and it invites the visitor to take part.
 About half way up the
left side of Ireland, on route N67 just north of the small town of Kinvara, the dramatic
Dunguaire Castle suddenly appears just west of the road on a small peninsula jutting into
Galway Bay. Few castles in Ireland or elsewhere make such a scenic first
impression—Dunguaire may be the most photographed castle in Ireland.
The castle dates from the late Middle Ages,
when the O’Hynes clan built the fortress in the year 1520. But Dunguaire has Celtic
clan associations that go back far in the Dark Ages, to King Guaire who may or may not
have ruled the western Irish kingdom of Connaught from a wooden/earthen fort built near
the current castle in the year 662AD.
DUNGUAIRE CASTLE
photo © HOME AT FIRST
Although no important medieval history was made at Dunguaire, the castle has contributed
mightily to Irish history and culture. In the early 20th century writer/surgeon Oliver St. John
Gogarty purchased the Dunguaire and used
it for cultural meetings for W. B. Yates, George Bernard Shaw, Sean O’Casey and other
Irish literati. Their literary evenings fueled the Irish revival movement, a culturally
positive examination of all things culturally Irish. The movement remains most evident in
the flowering of Irish drama, poetry, and prose of the period—a starkly powerful,
eloquently loquacious literature that examined, exposed, celebrated, and elevated
Irishness. The movement proved to be more than intellectual. By the late 1910’s Irish
nationalists, spurred in part by the literary movement of the prior twenty years, found
strength and unity in their new Irish pride. By 1922 Ireland had divested itself of
Britain and become independent for the first time in almost 900 years.
Dunguaire Castle—now owned by Shannon
Heritage—is open for visitors daily mid-April through September 9:30AM to 5:00PM. The
castle, although restored, is not furnished in medieval style, nor are there weapons or an
armory. Its primary feature is a 75-foot tall tower, which dominates a smaller tower, and
other buildings, all ringed by a stone wall. Entrance to the grounds is free. Admission
charge for the tower: €4/adult, €3.50/seniors/students, €2.30/children
(prices subject to change).
Evenings at 4:30PM and 8:45PM from May through
September, medieval castle banquets are held at the castle. These banquets provide guests
with more than mead, a traditional four-course Irish meal, and wine in a medieval setting.
Costumed entertainers continue the traditions of Dunguaire with harp music, song and
storytelling, including passages from the works of literary greats who have visited the
castle. The medieval evening costs €47/adult, €35/children 9-12, and
€24/children 6-9 (prices subject to change). Reservations well in advance are
strongly recommended.
NOTE: This is
one of many day trips available to Home at First guests traveling to Central Ireland.
Historical sites like Dunguaire Castle and many other suggestions for what to see and do
in Ireland are listed in our exclusive "Ireland Activities Guide", provided only
to Home at First guests in Ireland. Read all about it at CENTRAL IRELAND.
You can visit
Dunguaire Castle as part of your trip to
Central Ireland with Home At First. Our exclusive Activity Guides
tell you all about how to do it well. Start planning your next visit
to Ireland with a visit to
 .
|
