Ross Castle: A Medieval Tower House in County Kerry, Ireland

Visitor Information

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Official Website: heritageireland.ie

Country: Ireland

Civilization: Medieval European

Remains: Military

History

Ross Castle stands on Ross Island near Lough Leane in County Kerry, Ireland. It was built in the late 15th century by the O’Donoghue Mór clan, who ruled the local area. This tower house served as a stronghold for the clan during a period of regional power struggles.

In the 1580s, during the Second Desmond Rebellion, control of Ross Castle passed to the MacCarthy Mór clan. They later leased the castle and surrounding lands to Sir Valentine Browne, an ancestor of the Earls of Kenmare. This marked a shift in ownership from native Gaelic lords to Anglo-Irish landlords.

During the Irish Confederate Wars (1641–1652), Ross Castle was one of the last castles to resist Oliver Cromwell’s forces. Lord Muskerry, a MacCarthy leader, defended the castle against a large army led by Edmund Ludlow. The castle fell only after artillery was brought by boat along the River Laune. This event fulfilled a local prophecy that Ross Castle could not be captured until a warship sailed on Lough Leane.

After the wars, the Browne family retained ownership by proving their heir was too young to have taken part in the rebellion. Around 1688, they built a mansion near the castle but were later exiled for supporting King James II during the Williamite War. The castle was then converted into military barracks and remained in use until the early 19th century.

The Browne family did not return to Ross Castle but instead established Kenmare House near Killarney. The castle is linked to a local legend that the O’Donoghue chieftain vanished into the lake from the top chamber and now lives in an underwater palace beneath Lough Leane.

From 1652 to 1835, Ross Castle’s garrison was overseen by a series of governors, including Pierce Ferriter, Sir John Peyton, Colonel Sir John Edgeworth, Colonel Richard Hedges, William FitzMaurice (2nd Earl of Kerry), and Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Johnson.

Remains

Ross Castle is a classic example of a medieval Irish tower house. It features a central keep with square bartizans—small overhanging turrets—on two opposite corners. The structure is enclosed by a square defensive wall called a bawn, which has round towers at each corner.

The main entrance includes a small anteroom secured by an iron grill known as a “yett.” This grill could be locked from inside using a chain. Above the entrance, a murder-hole allowed defenders to attack intruders from above. The inner door was made of two layers of thick Irish oak boards arranged at right angles and reinforced with heavy beams embedded in the stone walls.

Windows on the lower levels are narrow vertical slits designed to prevent enemy entry while allowing defenders to shoot arrows or firearms. Upper-level windows are larger to admit light, considered safe due to their height. Two machicolations—openings in the parapet—project from the top walls above the front door and the back wall, enabling defenders to drop stones or boiling oil on attackers.

The roof-level parapet is crenellated, with alternating raised sections (merlons) and gaps (crenels) providing cover for defenders firing weapons. Inside, the first floor was used for storage. The second floor housed guards and attendants who slept on straw without furniture. The third floor served as a kitchen and living space for attendants.

The fourth floor contained the chieftain’s family quarters, featuring an arched stone roof that supported the stone floor of the fifth story. The fifth floor was the great room used for dining and entertaining. It also served as a last refuge, with a fire-resistant stone floor.

These features remain largely intact, preserving the castle’s defensive and residential functions. The local legend of the O’Donoghue chieftain adds a cultural dimension to the site, linking the physical structure to the surrounding lake and its folklore.