Dalkey Castles -Ireland

Dalkey Castle is one of the seven fortified town houses/castles of Dalkey. The castles were built to store the goods which were off-loaded in Dalkey during the Middle Ages, when Dalkey acted as the port for Dublin. The castles all had defensive features to protect the goods from being plundered. These are all still visible on the site: the Machicolation, the Murder Hole, the Battlements with its Warders’ Walk, and slit arrow-loop windows. In Dalkey Castle, you will see a fine example of barrel-vaulted ceiling and traces of the wicker work that supported it. Many niches have been exposed on the walls where precious goods may have been stored. The Castle is an integral entrance to both the Heritage Centre and Dalkey Town Hall.

 From the original seven in the area Dalkey has managed to retain two of its castles in quite good condition

 Goat's Castle

The first one is known as Goat's Castle and has been used as the Town Hall since 1869. Beside it is the old graveyard together with a church dedicated to Saint Begnet. This castle is in a good state of repair and as well as housing the town hall, it also acts as a heritage centre.

 Bullock Castle

Bullock Castle dates from the twelfth century (approximately 1150). The monks of St.Mary's Abbey built the castle in order to protect their lands and fishing rights from attack. Bullock Castle offered them a perfect haven as it overlooked the harbour. The plan of this castle is very simple, oblong in shape, with the lower (vaulted) story probably used as a store.
Battlements in the castle take the form of steps and the castle is divided into two. The castle became famous as a 'place of refuge' for many a visitor, the monks were famous for their hospitality.

CLIFF CASTLE - Coliemore 

 CLIFF CASTLE is one of Dalkey's most distinctive residences - commanding an enviable position on Coliemore Road, with Italianate gardens leading down to the sea and has its own dock. It is the neighbour of Inniscorrig Castle. This Castle dates back to the 1840's when the home was built as a private residence, presumably a summer residence, and then converted into a hotel in the 1920's. It is possible that a smaller castle existed before 1840 which was added onto, or demolished and replaced with Cliff Castle. In the late 1970's, the owners found signs that dungeons and underground caves exist under the home from the original 12th Century buildings, as well as 'lost rooms' high up in the battlements. 

 

INNISCORRIG 

  INNISCORRIG is a magnificent solid-granite castle, dating back to 1847 with its own dock on Coliemore Road, Dalkey. The house is truly striking and I must admit that it is one of Dalkey's finest, and one of Dublin's most romantic properties. The property sits on c. 3/4 acres of prime seafront land and extends to approx. 5,000 sq.ft

 The house was built in 1847 by a very wealthy Dublin physician named Sir Dominic Corrigan, who was based in No. 4 Merrion Square, as a summer retreat. According to the Irish Times, Corrigan was fond of entertaining on a large and lavish scale - King Edward VII is reputed to have been a guest at the house which "was commemorated by a crown and stars in pebbles set into the patios on either side of the front door". The face of Corrigan himself is set into a granite bust above the front door.

 Given the age of the home, it is no surprise that the house changed ownership various times over the years.  

 Archibalds castle

 
it was built by merchants from Dublin to safeguard goods brought into the deep sea port at Dalkey. It also dates back to around the 15^th century. The several Castles built in Dalkey would have benefited greatly from the ‘Subsidised Castles Act’ passed in the fifteenth century by Henry VI

 Archibold Castle was believed to have been owned by the Dungan Family, but it bears its current name after the Archibald Family whom leased the property back in the 18^th Century. This tower house looks to be  three storeys in height,  and covers an area of approx 9 X 5 meters. The entrance can be found on the west side of the castle, with a machicolation directly above. The machicolation was a standard defensive feature of castles during the period and consisted of an opening above the castle entrance. This would allow the inhabitants to drop various things on unsuspecting attackers such as boiling oil etc .