Jigginstown Castle

Naas, Ireland, Ireland

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Jigginstown Castle is a ruined 17th-century mansion and National Monument located near Naas in County Kildare. Built in the 1630s by Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford and Lord Deputy of Ireland, it was intended to serve as a grand royal residence for King Charles I during visits to Ireland. At the time of its construction, Jigginstown was one of the largest and most ambitious buildings in Ireland. It was among the earliest major Irish buildings made from red brick, with materials reportedly imported from the Netherlands and plans that included impressive marble features. The project was never completed because Strafford was executed for treason in 1641, and the building was heavily damaged during the conflicts of the 1640s. Today, only parts of the basement and ground floor survive, but the ruins remain an important reminder of one of the most ambitious architectural projects of 17th-century Ireland.