Ross Castle
| Ross Castle | ||
|---|---|---|
 Ross Castle around 1900 |
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| Alternative name (s): | Irish Caisleán to Rois | |
| Creation time : | Late 15th century | |
| Castle type : | Niederungsburg in an island location | |
| Conservation status: | restored | |
| Standing position : | Irish nobility | |
| Place: | Killarney ( Ross Island ) | |
| Geographical location | 52 ° 2 '29.1 " N , 9 ° 31' 53.6" W | |
| Height: | 18 m ASL | |
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Ross Castle ( Irish Caisleán to Rois ) is a castle in Ireland . It is located not far from Killarney on a peninsula on the east bank of Lough Leane , the largest of the three lakes in Killarney National Park , and was the ancestral home of the O'Donoghue clan . Ross Castle is decorated with furniture and fixtures from the 16th and 17th centuries and is a popular destination for tourists.
history
Ross Castle is considered the typical castle of a medieval Irish clan leader on what is now the land-based Ross Island . The exact date of construction of the fortress is unknown, but it is believed that a member of the O'Donoghues had Ross Castle built in the late 15th century. Ross Castle was the last fortress in Ireland to resist Oliver Cromwell during the Irish Confederation Wars. However, she surrendered before a fight broke out. In 1583 the O'Donoghues lost their lands to the English crown. Ross Castle went to the Donald McCarthy Mór Clan, who mortgaged it to Sir Valentine Browne, who eventually became the owner.
After the troops withdrew (see below) in 1825, the castle fell into disrepair , also because the owner at the time, Lord Kenmare, had the roof removed to save taxes. After several changes of ownership, Ross Castle became the property of the Republic of Ireland in 1979. Since then, it has been extensively restored, with emphasis on being true to the original. The castle can be accessed from the lakeshore and is now the starting point for boat trips to two small islands in Lough Leane, on which the remains of medieval monasteries (including Innisfallen Abbey ) can be found.
architecture
The actual fort stands in an inner courtyard that is fortified with walls and towers. Two of the round towers are still preserved today. The small windows and the narrow, irregular spiral staircase show that Ross Castle was designed primarily for defense. Since barracks were added to the fortress in the 18th century, a large part of the original courtyard was lost. The building structure was also badly affected by the extension. The troops were withdrawn again in 1825.
