Clan Rising
Dunsoghly Castle today

Ireland · Still standing

Dunsoghly Castle

Dunsoghly Castle is a mid-15th-century tower house in County Dublin, Ireland, now a state-owned National Monument. The site comprises a tall four-storey tower with corner turrets, an attached small chapel to the south, and surrounding low bawn walls with earthwork defences to the west and south.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1450

Today

Still standing

As it stood in 1450

What Dunsoghly Castle looked like in its prime.

A tall, rectangular four-storey stone tower with tapering, almost-square turrets at each corner rising slightly above a continuous parapet; the tower’s faces show narrow, vertical window openings and small slit-like embrasures. The masonry is grey local stone; a small gabled stone chapel with a pitched roof stands to the south with an arched doorway bearing a carved date. Low stone bawn walls enclose a compact courtyard and surrounding pasture, with earthwork ramparts visible to west and south.

Its story

The story of Dunsoghly Castle.

Dunsoghly Castle is a mid-15th-century tower house in the civil parish of St. Margaret's, County Dublin: a tall four-storey tower with corner turrets, a small chapel attached to the south, and low bawn walls with earthwork defences to the west and south.

The Plunket family occupied Dunsoghly until the 1870s, despite it "being a cramped Irish castle and uncomfortable by post-medieval standards". It has been in state ownership since 1914 and is a National Monument, managed by the Office of Public Works.

Step inside

8 places to explore in 1450.

The record describes 8 distinct spots at Dunsoghly Castle, including 2 interiors: timber roof of the principal chamber (interior), south chapel interior with carved panels. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Exterior approach from the east across the fieldsBase of the main tower and ground-level entranceParapet and corner turrets (top of tower)Timber roof of the principal chamber (interior)South chapel exterior and doorwaySouth chapel interior with carved panelsInner courtyard and outbuildings within the bawnEarthwork defences to the west and south

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Recreate Dunsoghly Castle with AI to explore it.

The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1450, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

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Whose castle

Clans who held Dunsoghly Castle.

The families that held Dunsoghly Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Plunket

    The Plunket family occupied the tower house until the 1870s.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Dunsoghly Castle.

Glasnevin Cemetery, IrelandCemeteryGlasnevin Cemetery7 km awayDalymount Park, IrelandStadiumDalymount Park8 km awayTolka Park, IrelandStadiumTolka Park8 km away

Questions about Dunsoghly Castle

What is the history of Dunsoghly Castle?

Dunsoghly Castle was built around 1450 as a four-storey tower house by Sir Thomas Plunket, Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas. The Plunket family occupied it until the 1870s, despite its cramped and uncomfortable post-medieval conditions. It has been in state ownership since 1914 and is managed by the Office of Public Works.

What is inside Dunsoghly Castle?

Inside Dunsoghly Castle, the principal chamber has an arch-braced timber roof with four oak principals, king-posts, purlins and split laths. The small south chapel has carved panels and bears the Instruments of the Passion and the initials of Sir John Plunket and Jenet Sarsfield. The chapel doorway carries the date 1573.

When was Dunsoghly Castle built?

Dunsoghly Castle was built around 1450. It is a mid-15th-century tower house, although the site's first-raised year is not recorded. The small chapel to the south dates from a later period and bears the year 1573 over its door.

Which family or clan held Dunsoghly Castle?

Dunsoghly Castle was occupied by the Plunket family until the 1870s. The family occupied the tower house despite it being a cramped Irish castle and uncomfortable by post-medieval standards.

Who built Dunsoghly Castle?

Dunsoghly Castle was built by Sir Thomas Plunket, Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas. His grandson, Sir John Plunket, was also Chief Justice in one of the courts of common law and is associated with the later south chapel.

What did Dunsoghly Castle look like in its prime?

Dunsoghly Castle is a tall, rectangular four-storey stone tower with tapering, almost-square corner turrets rising above a continuous parapet. Its grey local-stone walls have narrow vertical windows and slit-like embrasures. A small gabled chapel stands to the south, while low bawn walls, a courtyard and earthwork ramparts extend around the castle.

Is Dunsoghly Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Dunsoghly Castle is still standing and intact. It consists of a four-storey main tower with corner turrets, an attached south chapel and low bawn walls. Earthwork defences remain visible to the west and south.

Who owns Dunsoghly Castle now?

Dunsoghly Castle is in state ownership. It has been state-owned since 1914 and is managed by the Office of Public Works. It is also a National Monument.

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Explore the city

Dunsoghly Castle stands in historic Dublin, explore the whole city through the ages

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