Delvin Castle

Delvin, County Westmeath, Ireland, Ireland

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Delvin Castle, also known as Nugent Castle, is a historic ruin located in the center of Delvin, County Westmeath. The site originated as an Anglo-Norman motte-and-bailey castle built in the late 12th century by Hugh de Lacy for his brother-in-law, Sir Gilbert de Nugent, whose family became closely associated with the area for centuries. The surviving structure mainly dates from the 15th century and was once a large stone castle with a central hall and four circular corner towers. Today, two of these impressive five-storey towers remain, providing a striking reminder of the castle’s former importance as the seat of the Nugent family and later the Earls of Westmeath. Over time, the castle fell into ruin and was briefly used as a prison, with some of its ground-floor cells still visible.