15 Jan Beagh Castle , County Limerick
A narrow lane opens suddenly onto the Shannon estuary , revealing a short jetty , a line of ruined , ivy-clad cottages and the dilapidated keep of the 13th century castle.
It was built by John Fitzjohn Fitzgerald and remained in his family , the Knights of Glin , until it was confiscated by the Crown in 1573. during the Napoleonic Wars a gun battery was built to the West of the castle. It is now , like the castle itself , a crumbing ruin.
Beagh Castle is a real hidden gem set in breathtaking surroundings and is worth a visit on your tours of Ireland.