Just before the pandemic, I stopped off in Ireland while travelling home from the US to do a tour of the Dwyer Castles. My family heritage is from Ireland; my ancestors built these castles to defend their land from the invasion of the English lead by Oliver Cromwell. They were unsuccessful, the castles were confiscated and many were destroyed.
Because of the pandemic it’s taken me over a year to do this post (homeschooling!). I’ve enjoying looking at the photos again; it’s a small taste of the travel we’re all missing.
Ballysheeda Castle
The best preserved of the castles I visited (Killenure was closed). I was very lucky with the timing of the sunrise. I had spent the night wide awake on an aeroplane…
The Cell Of The Monks
Not a Dwyer castle, but kind of interesting. I’m not really sure what it is. It’s just down the road from Ballysheeda Castle
Ballagh Castle
Not much left of this one. There’s also a memorial to Eamonn O’Duibhir just next to it, and the Clonoulty memorial up the road.
Graigorne Castle
Another ruin. There’s another possible castle on the hill opposite and a church yard with some Dwyers in it:
Drumbrane Castle
Only a stump of this one left, but it’s in an amazing location.
Clonyharp Castle
This one is part of a farm but the farmer was very friendly and let me take a few pictures:
Ballymore Castle
This foundation is all that remains of Ballymore Castle – there is now a barn inside. The owner very kindly let me look around:
Moyaliffe Castle
I never found this one, I think the house might be on top of it:
Millborne Castle
Not much left of this one either. It was a long walk from the road in the mud!
Signs
I also saw my name on a few signs:
scruffian 
9 responses to “The Dwyer Castles”
Great photos Ben, must have been really interesting visiting and being able to see them. Must have been a bit different seeing the Dwyer name around and about. Glad the farmers let you see the castle remains on their land, bet they had a few stories to tell, not necessarily about the Dwyers though!
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Thanks!
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Cool to see, Dwyer seems like a much more common name in Australia and NZ.
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Hi Tim, That’s interesting, I didn’t know that. Shows how adventurous the ancestors were to travel that far and start anew. All I know is our ancestors are a devil to track down before arriving in England. Still, keeps me busy…
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Many dwyers where exiled to Australia during the 18th century to be punished whilst fighting for Irish freedom
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This is really great! I’m trying to find history on our Dwyer family and have an upcoming trip. Amazing to see this!
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Happy to answer any questions you have!
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Thank you so Much for showing these! These are the only images / references I’ve ever seen of the Dwyer castles. I was a foster child and have been spending some time trying to learn more about my Dwyer Heritage for a long time! Not very easy, though I have been able to trace some arriving to my Birthplace in New Bruinswick! I hope I get to visit some of these someday! If you have any suggestions on where I could learn more history, I would very much love to know!
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Glad you enjoyed them. There is a book about the Dwyer clan but I couldn’t get through it!
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