Maynooth Castle

Maynooth Castle is an Irish castle built in the 12th century in County Kildare. Although now in ruins, the castle can still be visited in part, and attracts medieval history buffs who come in search of the charm and authenticity of an Irish fortress steeped in history… A pretty cool fortress to discover!

History of Maynooth Castle

A fortress belonging to the Fitzgerald clan

Maynooth castle – William Murphy – cc

Maynooth Castle belonged to the Fitzgerald family from 1176 to 1534. At the time, this family was one of the most powerful and influential in County Kildare.

The latter owned a great deal of land around the region, and had direct relations with the English royal family.

However, the family was dislodged from the fort in 1534, when Thomas FitzGerald, 10th Earl of Kildare (1513-1537) (nicknamed Silken Thomas), came into direct conflict with King Henry VIII, to whom he publicly renounced his allegiance… An affront the king will never forgive.

The king then ordered the British commander William Skeffington to send his troops to storm the castle. The assault lasted 10 days… Numerous cannon blasts finally destroyed the fortress in March 1535, forcing the Fitzgeralds to flee.

Since then, the château has never been renovated, and remains in a state of partial ruin. However, the Irish government has since turned it into a tourist site, and has set up a Visitor Centre, which is very popular these days…

Visit Maynooth Castle

A Château with authentic charm

Only a small part of the château is accessible. The Visitor Centre invites you to take part in a compulsory guided tour, which costs €6 per person. If your English isn’t too bad, you’ll be able to learn all about the castle’s history and anecdotes, its intricacies, and the different rooms that once structured the fortress…

During the guide’s entertaining explanations, you can explore the only intact part of the castle, and admire the fortress’s architectural structure, which has withstood the test of time and the artillery fire of William Skeffington’s army. The design of the vaulted ceilings and certain sections of the walls hint at what the château once looked like: enough to feed the imagination during a fun-filled visit!