The desire to trace our history and find out more about our ancestors is strong. Ireland is a great place to trace your roots and walk in the footsteps of your ancestors. Is your name family name connected to one of the many castles on the Wild Atlantic Way. If so, your visit can be a deeply personal one which you can share with your family back home.
Ireland's castles are a great way to see the country and they are not just tourist attractions; they represent some of Ireland's history and culture as well. There are dozens upon dozens of Irish castles, but here are some that you should definitely visit if you want to get the most out of your trip to the West Coast.
Blarney Castle
Blarney Castle is one of Ireland's most famous landmarks. It's located in County Cork, about 10 miles south of the town of Cork and 15 miles east of Blarney village. The castle has been in existence since 1446, when it was built by Cormac Laidir McCarthy as a tower house (a small castle). In 1599, Sir Richard Boyle purchased the property from Sir Donogh O'Neill for 2,000 pounds sterling and began renovating it into its current shape: four towers connected by curtain walls enclosing courtyards.
The castle is best known for its walls - or lack thereof! The famous Blarney Stone sits on top of a turret near one corner of the castle. Legend has it that kissing this stone gives you the gift of eloquence or persuasion, but you have to lean backward over its edge while doing so!
Bunratty Castle
Bunratty Castle is located in the village of Bunratty in County Clare. It was built in 1425 by O'Brien, an Irish clan who lived there until 1922. The castle was the home to the O'Brien clan until 1922 when they were evicted by their landlord at that time and forced to move out of Ireland altogether.
The castle was left unoccupied until 1931 when it was purchased by the Irish government. In that same year, the castle opened to the public as a tourist attraction and has remained so ever since.
Dunguaire Castle
Located on the shores of Galway Bay, Dunguaire Castle is one of Ireland's most famous castles. It was first built in 1220 as part of a Norman invasion and has been renovated many times since then. During its history, it has served as a prison and even hosted events like weddings! Today, visitors can see what life was like for those living at Dunguaire during its heyday by walking through the castle walls or taking part in one of their events--like medieval banquets or sword fighting demonstrations!
Ashford Castle
Ashford Castle is a luxury hotel and resort in Cong, Ireland. The castle was built in 1228 by William Marshall, who went on to become the Earl of Pembroke.
The Fitzgerald family owned Ashford Castle for many years until it was bought by Irish government in 1974. Today, it's a popular tourist attraction that offers guests luxury accommodations along with access to activities like horseback riding and fishing on their grounds.
And what better way to visit these castles than in the comfort of your own taxi tour. At Limerick Taxis we offer a range of taxi tours so you can take in the sites and explore the land of your ancestors. We offer day tours, half day ours and a genealogy and heritage tour, where we will research your family name and take you on a journey back in time, visiting all the significant sites in your family history.
Our friendly and professional drivers will pick you up from your accommodation and escort you in one of our comfortable taxis to each site, filling you in with all the local knowledge and history. A truly personal and memorable journey.
For more information about booking your own genealogy and heritage tour, please contact Limerick Taxis and we’ll be happy to help.