Extended opening hours announced for Greencastle Royal Castle

Extended opening hours have been announced by the Department for Communities’ Historic Environment Division for Greencastle Royal Castle.

From 5th July to 2nd October, the monument will be open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 5 pm.

Greencastle is a royal castle built in the 13th century. While it dates mainly from the 13th century, it had substantial 15th- and 16th-century alterations.

The large rectangular keep with three vaulted chambers at the ground floor is approached across a rock-cut ditch. The Keep was originally surrounded by a large curtain wall with four corner towers (ruins of some remain).

It is likely to have been built by Hugh de Lacy, along with Carlingford Castle on the opposite side of Carlingford Lough, to guard the narrow entry channel to the Lough, and the ferry crossing between the two.

The castle was held for the English Crown by Richard de Burgh, Earl of Ulster, from 1264-1333. It was attacked and taken by Edward Bruce, the brother of Robert, in 1316.

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This was in spite of one of Richard de Burgh’s daughters having married Robert the Bruce himself. It was attacked at least twice by the Irish in the later 14th century but still maintained as an English garrison in the 1590s.

In the 16th century it was held by the Earl of Kildare and then Nicholas Bagenal of Newry. It fell into disuse after a bombardment by Cromwellian soldiers to stop it being used by rebel forces.

The castle is a State-Care historic monument in the townland of Greencastle, in the Newry and Mourne District Council area Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

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Posted by Newry Times News on Aug 24 2016. Filed under Community, What's On. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry