Greencastle Royal Castle occupies a rocky position near the entrance to Carlingford Lough in County Down. From this strategic setting, the medieval castle controlled sea and land routes and remained within sight of Carlingford Castle on the opposite shore.
A thirteenth-century royal castle
The castle was built around 1250. Its surviving four-storey keep and rock-cut ditch reflect its defensive role, while later alterations show how the site continued to change between the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries.
An eventful military history
Greencastle was attacked and damaged in 1260, taken by Edward Bruce in 1316 and attacked again during the later fourteenth century. It was still maintained as a garrison during the reign of Elizabeth I in the 1590s.
Visitor access
The castle is a protected historic monument, and access arrangements can change. Do not rely on older descriptions encouraging visitors to climb the ruins. Check the official Department for Communities listing for current access information before travelling.
For wider heritage and landscape ideas across the island, explore our private tours of Ireland. This contextual link does not mean Greencastle is included in a specific tour.
