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There are about 30,000 castles and ruins in Ireland, so it’s easy to pretend you’re royalty for at least a day when visiting the whole island.
As my companions and I road-tripped from north to south and east to west we stood on the site where St. Patrick baptized the Irish King Aengus (fifth century), snapped selfies in front of our ancestors’ castle home and imagined battles waged on the rough-hewn coast of Northern Ireland.
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The sheer number of dwellings and ruins speaks to the historic necessity of castles here. Most were not built as opulent homes for royalty or the rich, but as fortified structures for protection of ruling chieftains.
With a dash of imagination and a good guide, Ireland’s castles tell the island’s complex story. Here are six places where we experienced just that. Of course, it’s always a good idea to research before you go: Hours can change by day and season. You can also buy tickets and see accessibility details for most of the castles online. Note: Pricing can change depending on the exchange rate.
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1. Rock of Cashel, Cashel, County Tipperary
From Dublin, we traveled about two hours and 45 minutes on two-lane roads through verdant hills topped with white wind turbines to Cork, the second-largest city in the Republic of Ireland and our base for three days in the south. We have four castles in mind, beginning with Rock of Cashel, one of Ireland’s most visited tourist attractions, according to the Office of Public Works, which manages 780 properties.