Château de Barryscourt is a 16th-century Anglo-Norman fortress. Barryscourt Castle, with its imposing wall and fortifications, is a wonderful vestige of Anglo-Norman history in Ireland. Open to visitors, the castle is simply fascinating, and transports us to another time!
According to archaeologists, the site where the castle stands was inhabited as early as the 7th century AD. Numerous traces testify to this, including the existence of a water mill, built at this period, at the height of a small stream.
It was during the Norman Invasions that the site fell into the hands of a wealthy Anglo-Norman family: the Barry family. She decided to settle there for good, dividing possession of the surrounding land between the various branches of the family line.
At that time, the most powerful branch of the family was the Barrymores clan, which owned the vast majority of the land that had been divided up. After several centuries of domination over its lands, the Barrymores family commissioned the construction of a castle in the 16th century. She demanded that it take the form of a large square tower pierced with windows, and protected by a fortified perimeter wall.
As construction was nearing completion, the Barrymores family decided to take part in the Desmond Geraldine Rebellions, a 2-stage revolt (1569-1573 and 1579-1583) pitting Irish clan chiefs against English Protestant families. These revolts gave rise to numerous battles that partially destroyed Barryscourt castle (part of the fortifications collapsed, while some rooms in the castle were seriously damaged).
Nevertheless, when the conflict ended, the Barrymores family were finally pardoned by Elizabeth I, and the castle entered a phase of reconstruction. The fortress has been restored to its former glory. In addition, 3 corner towers and an extra wall surrounding a small inner courtyard were added to the château.
In 1645, during the Confederate Wars, the family underwent a siege that left many marks on the château, including cannonballs fired into the surrounding walls. After several days of fighting, the family finally gave in, and the head of the family was imprisoned. Faced with this bitter failure, the rest of the family decided to leave the castle and flee to safety.
From 1645 until the 1980s, the château remained in a state of abandonment and disrepair. It wasn’t until 1987 that the Trust Barryscourt decided to renovate the building, register it as an Irish Heritage Site and open it to visitors.
Visiting Barryscourt castle is free, and lets you discover the architecture of a castle. This is typical of the Anglo-Norman style, with its large square tower and courtyard protected by an imposing surrounding wall. Three 5-storey watchtowers also keep watch over the castle’s security, while a dungeon was once used to imprison the region’s traitors and criminals.
Don’t hesitate to visit them from top to bottom: every room is well worth a visit!
You’ll also have the opportunity to visit the various rooms in the main tower. It boasts 2 large, fully renovated rooms that were once used for banquets and games. Each room has been fitted out with 16th-century furniture to immerse you in a realistic world.
Finally, if you’ve enjoyed your visit, be sure to discover the château’s orchard, which was completely restored in the 1990s. It also boasts a garden dedicated to aromatic plants.
The château regularly organizes medieval festivities… Markets, jousts and knightly confrontations are sure to delight the whole family!
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John Hughes - 
