Castles of Ireland

Malahide entrance

How about a classic way to kick off my month in Ireland--a blog of all the castles I visited. Why not skip to  dessert? While waitressing I once had a couple order their meal entirely backwards. Dessert, dinner, appetizer. They wrapped up the mozzarella sticks to take home.

The only viking tower remaining

First on the list is Dublin Castle. Not to be mistaken for the bar in London. My favorite part of the tour was the long hall with the 180 degree mirrors. They curved so the king or president could see all his guests at the table. The St Patrick's Hall was very BLUE, and will be the receiving room for the Queen herself and President Obama this year. Queen Victoria's throne had been cut down because she was *cough* my height (believe me, I was tempted to jump over those long red velvet ropes and try it out myself). We went down below the castle (and the road) to see the remains of a viking bridge and moat. Hundreds of 1 & 5 cent coins (and probably some old shillings and half-crowns) glittered underneath the stairway in the dark dingy underground passage.



Malahide Castle, now that was a good old-fashioned, just as you imagined (or the disney cartoons taught you to imagine), rescue me from the highest window, castle. Again, loved the banquet hall--a high overlook to the far end allowed live music players to attend. The study had many bookcases, one shelf containing Latin books that I imagine to be as old as 17th c. A small circular room off a bedroom was well-lit with windows and fit a desk. What a perfect place to write, gazing out at the acres and acres of botanical gardens.

Rapunzel, Rapunzel...

The Monkstown Castle ruins stood unabashedly, although some recent graffiti had attempted to ruin its pride. From the 16th century respectively, I quite did respect the castle sitting next to a roundabout, the perfect place for local kids to meet up in moonlight to plan unspeakable trouble. The hollow tower was padlocked, but I could peek through and see an abandoned glass bottle on its dirt floor and some old steps leading from what used to perhaps be the second floor.

On the lovely Dalkey Island stands one of the many Martello Towers sprinkled on the east coast of Ireland. So much coin went into building the little fortresses to protect against Napoleon. If only he had come to the party. At least that's what the locals say. Wikipedia gives a few other stories. My aunt camped on the island when she was younger.
I believe her.

Dalkey Island

Walking down high street will inevitably find Dalkey Castle. In two parts. I liked the one not being used for tourist purposes, standing for centuries idly as if waiting for someone to hand him a lollipop. The other tower is more stately and I did visit the gift shop.

The oldcastle

According to the trusted wikipedia, the Newcastle Castle was not New, but had been built in the late 16th century and has not been the same since someone crushed it in the 19th century. Now it provides some great shade for some horses and sheep.