Dundrum Castle

Dundrum Castle

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This medieval coastal castle with circular keep and massive walls is set high on a hill overlooking the sea at Dundrum, County Down. It was built shortly before 1210, on an earlier fortified earthwork, from which the place-name element 'dun' derives. It was begun by John de Courcy, who led the 1177 Anglo-Norman invasion of East Ulster. Its purpose was to guard the land routes from Drogheda via Greencastle to Downpatrick. It was visited by King John in 1210, who spent money for minor works to the castle and paid for a garrison there. Subsequently the castle was held by the Earls of Ulster and, from the middle of the 14th century, by the Magennises of Mourne.

In 1517 it was captured by the Earl of Kildare and later by Lord Deputy Grey in 1538. The castle was surrendered to the Crown in 1601 by Phelim Magennis, granted to Edward Lord Cromwell and sold to the Blundell family. The Magennises took the castle briefly in 1641, but the Blundells returned after the war and built the house on the south edge of the castle.

There are other sites linked with John de Courcy, the most important of which are: Cathedral Hill and Mound of Down, both at Downpatrick and the castles at Carrickfergus, Dundrum and Inch and Grey Abbey.

Education

If you are planning a visit or looking for educational resources on this site, please visit this page.

Facilities

  • Guided tours available
  • Toilets
  • Picnic Area
  • Parking

Access & Booking

From now until Easter 2009 the castle is open on Saturdays only from 10am - 4pm
Open daily Easter - end September from 10am to 6pm daily
October - Easter, Sundays only from 12 to 4pm.

Admission: FREE

In special circumstances the site may be opened on request outside of these hours. Please contact the numbers below to discuss your requirements.

Booking and queries: For information on visits to Dundrum Castle, including arranging educational visits, please contact NIEA on 028 9181 1491.

The castle is on a sloping, rocky knoll and the gatehouse is intended to make access difficult. Wheelchair users may find access challenging or impossible.

Getting Here

Signposted in Dundrum Village, County Down. Public transport available to Dundrum.