Shared description
Dunguaire Castle
Dunguaire (or Dungory) Castle was built in 1520 and was first occupied by the O’Hyne family, a descendant of the 7th Century King Guaire of Connacht. The earthworks on the adjacent headland is thought to have been King Guaire’s original fort, hence the name.
Strictly speaking the building is not a castle but more a fortified residence, popular in western Ireland in the 15th to 17th Centuries, known as a “tower house”.
It passed to the Martyn family of Galway in the 17th Century, and they continued to own it until 1924 when it was bought by Oliver St John Gogarty in 1924, who thought never living there carried out some repair work. Gogarty was an eminent head and neck surgeon, as well as being a poet, author, athlete and politician. He was the inspiration behind the character Buck Mulligan in James Joyce’s Ulysses.
The restoration was completed by Christabel, Lady Ampthill (famed for the Russell v Russell adultery or “virgin birth” case) who acquired the castle in 1954. It was opened to visitors in 1966 and since 1972 has been owned by the regional development body, Shannon Development. It is now a popular stop on the Burren tourist circuit, among the activities taking place there being the hosting of mediaeval banquets.
Strictly speaking the building is not a castle but more a fortified residence, popular in western Ireland in the 15th to 17th Centuries, known as a “tower house”.
It passed to the Martyn family of Galway in the 17th Century, and they continued to own it until 1924 when it was bought by Oliver St John Gogarty in 1924, who thought never living there carried out some repair work. Gogarty was an eminent head and neck surgeon, as well as being a poet, author, athlete and politician. He was the inspiration behind the character Buck Mulligan in James Joyce’s Ulysses.
The restoration was completed by Christabel, Lady Ampthill (famed for the Russell v Russell adultery or “virgin birth” case) who acquired the castle in 1954. It was opened to visitors in 1966 and since 1972 has been owned by the regional development body, Shannon Development. It is now a popular stop on the Burren tourist circuit, among the activities taking place there being the hosting of mediaeval banquets.
by Ian Capper
Created: Wed, 21 Jan 2015, Updated: Wed, 21 Jan 2015
12 images use this description:
2019
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014
2018
2018
2014
2014
Shared descriptions
This shared description
The 'Shared Description' text on this page is © copyright 2015 Ian Capper.
Shared descriptions are specifically licensed so that contributors can reuse them on their own images, without restriction.
About shared descriptions
These Shared Descriptions are common to multiple images.
For example, you can create a generic description for an object shown in a photo, and reuse the description on all photos of the object. All descriptions are public and shared between contributors, i.e. you can reuse a description created by others, just as they can use yours.
Explore images
View images using this "Dunguaire Castle" Shared Description
View images mentioning the words [Dunguaire Castle] anywhere in text
Links for M380105
This description is located in M380105.
Other shared descriptions
Search for other Shared Descriptions.
