Dungarvan Castle

Dungarvan, Ireland

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Dungarvan Castle, also known as King John's Castle, is a 12th-century Anglo-Norman fortification located at the mouth of the River Colligan in County Waterford, Ireland. Built around 1185 to protect Dungarvan Harbour and control the strategic land route south of the Comeragh Mountains, it features a rare polygonal shell keep, enclosed by a curtain wall with corner and gate towers.

The castle's design is unique in Ireland, resembling British royal castles of the time. In the early 18th century, a two-story military barracks was added within the walls, which served colonial and local forces until it was burned by Anti-Treaty forces during the Irish Civil War in 1922. Restored afterward, it became a Garda station until 1987.

Today, Dungarvan Castle is a restored heritage site with exhibitions that showcase its history, highlighting its transformation from a medieval fortress to a military and police barracks.