19 Feb Castle Roche , County Louth
The most romantic ruin in Louth , Castle Roche is built on a pinnacle of rock , which commands spectacular views of the countryside. It has a large D-shaped curtain of castellated walls and a fine twin-towered gatehouse , around uneven , grassed-over floors. It was built in the 13th century to defend the frontier of the Pale , a British controlled area centred on Dublin.
A window in the West wall is known as the ‘murder window’ because Rohesia de Verdun , the original Castle owner , was said to have had the castle’s builder thrown through it. The castle is in a field next to the road and is approached across a stile and up a grassy incline.
Castle Roche is a real hidden gem that is worth a visit on your Ireland tours.