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Ireland's Most Historic Castles: From Cahir to Thoor Ballylee

cultural-heritage · 2026-06-05

A survey of Ireland's most historically significant castles highlights Cahir Castle, built on a river island and used as a filming location for the movie Excalibur, and Thoor Ballylee, a 16th-century tower in Galway that attracted literary figures such as W.B. Yeats and George Bernard Shaw for banquets. The article covers a range of castles across Ireland, emphasizing their architectural features and historical roles, including defensive fortifications and cultural gatherings.

Key facts

  • Cahir Castle is built on a river island.
  • Cahir Castle was used as a filming location for the movie Excalibur.
  • Thoor Ballylee is a 16th-century tower in Galway.
  • Thoor Ballylee attracted W.B. Yeats and George Bernard Shaw for literary banquets.
  • The article surveys the most historic castles in Ireland.
  • Castles served defensive and cultural purposes.

Entities

Artists

Locations

  • Cahir Castle
  • Ireland
  • Galway
  • Thoor Ballylee

Sources