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Ross Castle

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Ross Castle

Highlight • Castle

Ross Castle

Recommended by 254 hikers out of 255

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Killarney National Park

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Location: Kerry, Munster, Ireland

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Best Hikes to Ross Castle

4.6

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1. Ross Island loop from Ross Castle — Killarney National Park

6.13km

01:36

40m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.7

(54)

204

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2. Ross Castle – Pubs and Restaurants in Killarney loop from Killarney

18.5km

04:44

80m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.8

(72)

249

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3. Killarney House and Gardens – Ross Castle loop from Killarney

13.1km

03:22

50m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

Tips

Cathrin

August 24, 2022

Ross Castle sits in a bay on Lough Leane. It is likely that the Irish chief O'Donoghue Mór built it in the 15th century.
According to legend, O'Donoghue still slumbers beneath the waters of the lake. Every seven years he mounts his magnificent white horse on the first morning of May. If you manage to catch a glimpse of him, you will be lucky for the rest of your life.
Ross Castle was the last place in Munster to stand against Cromwell. Its defenders, then led by Lord Muskerry, drew confidence from a prophecy that said the castle could only be taken by a ship. The Cromwellian commander, General Ludlow, knew of the prophecy and launched a large boat on the lake. When the defenders saw it, it hastened the surrender - and the prophecy was fulfilled.

Adults: €5.00
Group/senior: €4.00
Child/student: €3.00
Family: €13.00

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Scout Jens

September 23, 2023

The house tower with its outer wall and corner towers, of which the remains of two are still there, was built in the 15th century. Many of these "tower houses" were built in Ireland during this period. The one at Ross Castle was restored as authentically as possible by the Irish state with great attention to detail and is therefore considered a special feature.
Inside there is old furniture from other places, but it could have been there too. You can only visit the inside of the tower with a guided tour and photos are not allowed. I cannot understand the reasons for this, but the owner of the house decides. Taking part in a guided tour is highly recommended. Among other things, you learn why the spiral staircases run clockwise and what this has to do with the demonization of left-handed people, which lasted well into the 20th century.

From the outside you can see the renovations in the 17th and especially the 18th century, when the castle was converted into a barracks.
After the victory over Napoleon, this barracks also lost importance, as a French invasion was no longer the biggest concern. The property was returned to the owner family. They had naturally made their homes comfortable elsewhere in the meantime, and a medieval dwelling is anything but comfortable.
In the 19th century, the castle was romanticized in keeping with the spirit of the times, without considering the history of the buildings.
A British-Irish peculiarity is the roof tax. The owner had the roof removed for this reason. Otherwise he would have had to pay taxes for an unused second home. The renovations and the missing roof caused the tower in particular to fall into disrepair.
Until people remembered the cultural heritage and restored it.

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Turnsackerl 🇦🇹

August 22, 2017

Ross Castle is a 15th-century fortress. A boat trip on nearby Lough Leane, the largest of the three lakes in Killarney, is a great way to explore the surrounding area.

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Informations

Elevation 80 m

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Saturday 29 November

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70 %

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Max wind speed: 10.0 km/h

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Take Me There

Location: Kerry, Munster, Ireland

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Ross Castle

1. Ross Island loop from Ross Castle — Killarney National Park

2. Ross Castle – Pubs and Restaurants in Killarney loop from Killarney

3. Killarney House and Gardens – Ross Castle loop from Killarney

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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