Donore Castle Ruins

Killadoon, County Meath, Ireland, Ireland

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Donore Castle Ruins, located near Killadoon in County Meath, are the remains of a 15th-century tower house built on the edge of the medieval English-controlled Pale. The castle is believed to be one of the so-called “ten-pound castles,” small fortified towers encouraged by King Henry VI to strengthen local defenses against attacks. The castle was associated with the McGeoghegan family and later with local landowners in the Boyne Valley area. During the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland in 1650, it was captured by parliamentary forces, and a significant number of members of the McGeoghegan family were reportedly killed. Although now a ruin, Donore Castle still retains many of its original defensive features, including thick stone walls, a spiral stair tower, and a protected entrance. As a National Monument, it remains an important example of late medieval military architecture and a reminder of County Meath’s rich historical heritage.