February 13, 2019
The final castle on our day trip was Cahir Castle, built from 1142 as a stone fortress and the main castle being built in the 13th century. It is located on an island in the river Suir in County Tipperary and the town of Cahir has grown up around it.
In recent years Cahir Castle has been used in a couple of movies and television shows, most notably the 1981 movie Excalibur.
The castle was besieged twice, once in 1647 when a cannon ball lodged in the side of the tower. You can see it in the wall in the photo below.
This castle is so well preserved and is made in a different style than the other castles we have visited so far.
One of the entrances with the crest above the door and the eagle perched on top of the wall.
Once inside the walls the grounds are beautiful and you can imagine the buildings and stables that used to be in here.
Looking toward the castle.
The portcullis and murder whole at the entry into the castle grounds.
One of the reasons the movies like to use this castle is the working portcullis.
Above the entry you can see the Murder Hole.
Below is the family room of the castle. I was surprised at how warm and inviting it looks when the walls are plastered.
Darryl is checking out the portcullis mechanism.
The doors are quite small, which I didn't expect.
But the stairwells are still small and steep as they wind up the tower.
One of the upper floors in the main keep. They now have a very informative display of the Irish Revolution in what used to be family rooms of the castle.
A good view of the corner tower and the yard.
And yes, this castle had a dungeon.
viewing the river and the town from the ramparts of the corner tower.
Looking back on the keep, or family part of the castle.
This castle had the banquet hall separate form the family's quarters in the keep. It's the building to the right.
I wonder if this area might have been a kitchen area connecting the two buildings.
Inside the massive banqueting hall. The cupboard in the back is over six feet tall. The antlers mounted above are massive!
Looking the opposite direction.
I love the seating areas at the windows.
Having fun inside the yard.
Outside the walls of the castle is even more impressive than the inside.
Of course, we had try our hand at pulling Excalibur out of the stone.
Put your back into it!!!
On the drive back to Dublin our driver sang that most beloved song for us "Molly Malone", which was wonderful with his pure Irish accent. Thirteen hours after leaving Dublin we returned to our hotel with a greater appreciation for our Irish ancestors and wonderful memories to cherish for the rest of our lives.
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