Monea Castle is a castle in Northern Ireland, located in the village of Enniskillen in County Fermanagh. Magnificent, it is a fine example of a Scottish-style castle. Although it’s in ruins, it’s freely accessible, and has a dark charm typical of Irish castles!
Monea Castle – jamie_okeefe – cc
The château dates back to 1816 and was designed as a fortified, rectangular, three-storey tower house. It features large attics and 2 cylindrical towers on either side of the building’s main entrance, topped by a sort of small house. It is the latter that bear witness to the Scottish influence in the castle’s construction.
Monea Castle was built for the Reverend Malcolm Hamilton, who later became Archbishop of Cashel in 1623. Unfortunately, the castle was besieged during the Irish Rebellion of 1641. It was later occupied by Gustav Hamilton, then Governor of Enniskillen, who died in 1691.
The estate was sold in 1704, before falling victim to a terrible fire. The castle was then abandoned for good, and is now one of Ireland’s national monuments. It can, of course, be visited, but only from the outside, as the ruins remain rickety and dangerous for an internal tour… Even so, you can still admire the magnificent vaulted ceiling on the ground floor, as well as the building’s imposing architecture.
The place is magical and relaxing, ideal for a break in the heart of the Northern Irish countryside!
Essential information to help you plan your visit, including key landmarks, access information, and booking options.
north of Enniskillen, Enniskillen (County Fermanagh) - Northern Ireland
54.392603, -7.747255
4.00/5 (3 votes)