Bourchier’s Castle

Republic of Ireland, Ireland

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Bourchier’s Castle is a striking ruined tower house located beside Lough Gur in County Limerick, one of Ireland’s most important archaeological landscapes. Built in the late medieval period and later associated with Sir George Bourchier after the Munster Plantation, the castle occupies a strategic position at the entrance to the Knockadoon peninsula. The five-storey fortress, also known as Castle Doon or Lough Gur Castle, was originally linked to the Earls of Desmond before passing to the Bourchier family in the late 16th century. Its location, surrounded by water and approached by a narrow causeway, made it a formidable defensive stronghold. Today, although the castle is not open to the public, it remains a prominent landmark overlooking Lough Gur. Its impressive ruins and historic setting provide a vivid reminder of the region’s medieval history and its role in the political and military events of Munster’s past.