Castle Roche

As the name suggests, Ireland’s Ancient East is home to a treasure trove of beguiling historic landmarks. Castle Roche is something of a hidden gem in the region, tucked away just a short hop north of Dublin city in the lush green countryside of “the Wee County”, as County Louth is colloquially known. The castle was built in 1236 on a strategically important site which marked the boundary between the Gaelic province of Ulster and the Anglo-Norman controlled area around Dublin known as “the Pale”. Uniquely for Ireland, this structure was erected by a woman, Lady Rohesia de Verdun, who settled here after the death of her husband. As the tale goes, Lady Rohesia promised her hand in marriage to the man who would build her a mighty home. After a lavish wedding in the banquet hall, she invited her new groom to the bridal suite and urged him to view the estate from the bedroom window. Shockingly, she then pushed her newly-wed husband OUT of the window and he plummeted to his death below. The window has since been known as the murder window and his vengeful ghost is said to haunt the castle ruins...

The castle walls, remnants of the large hall and a twin-towered gatehouse are some of the features that endure from the original structure. Steep slopes and drops on three sides of the building situate the site above the surrounding landscape, providing expansive views of fields and hills – Ireland’s trademark patchwork quilt of green. This is a rugged spot that hasn’t changed much since it was attacked and ruined by Cromwellian forces in 1641. You won’t find any queues, ticket booths or such here. You may even have the castle all to yourself to explore. Just you, some cows mooing in a nearby field, and 800 years of history echoing on the wind.