Country

Castles in Northern Ireland

39 landmarks in the Castle Map atlas — every one mapped with a photo and its story, 33 with sourced founding dates, ranked by Wikipedia coverage and real readership.

The most famous castle in Northern Ireland is Hillsborough Castle, ranked #551 of 9,079 in the world — followed by Dunluce Castle and Belfast Castle.

The Castle Map atlas charts 13 castles, 2 fortresses, 8 palaces & châteaux and 16 ruins in Northern Ireland. They span more than 9 centuries — from Clough Castle (founded c. 1000) to Grey Point Fort (1904). Every one is plotted with its photo and story on the interactive castle map of Northern Ireland.

Map of castles in Northern Ireland

On the map they cluster thickest around Belfast — 30 within a 100 km day trip, then Derry (28). The northernmost is Dunseverick Castle, the southernmost Moyry Castle — about 129 km apart.

Planning a visit? Day-trip guides: Castles near Belfast · Castles near Derry.

See them on the map →

When they were built

Of the 39 landmarks mapped in Northern Ireland, 33 carry a sourced founding date. Most were founded in the 17th century — 11 of them. 8 predate 1500 and 11 were built after 1700.

All 39 castles in Northern Ireland

Hillsborough Castle
Palace & château · 18th century · #1 in Northern Ireland
Hillsborough Castle is an official government residence in Northern Ireland. It is the official residence of the Secretary of State for Northern…
Dunluce Castle
Ruin · #2 in Northern Ireland
Dunluce Castle is a now-ruined medieval castle in Northern Ireland, the seat of Clan MacQuillan.
Belfast Castle
Palace & château · 19th century · #3 in Northern Ireland
Belfast Castle is a mansion located in Cave Hill Country Park in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in a prominent position 400 feet above sea level.
Carrickfergus Castle
Castle · 12th century · #4 in Northern Ireland
Carrickfergus Castle is a Norman castle in Northern Ireland, situated in the town of Carrickfergus in County Antrim, on the northern shore of Belfast…
Castle Ward
Palace & château · 18th century · #5 in Northern Ireland
Castle Ward is an 18th-century National Trust property located near the village of Strangford, in County Down, Northern Ireland, in the townland of…
Stormont Castle
Palace & château · 19th century · #6 in Northern Ireland
Stormont Castle is a manor house on the Stormont Estate in east Belfast which is home to the Northern Ireland Executive and the Executive Office.
Dunseverick Castle
Castle · #7 in Northern Ireland
Dunseverick Castle is built of basalt and is situated in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, near the small village of Dunseverick and the Giant's…
Gosford Castle
Palace & château · 19th century · #8 in Northern Ireland
Gosford Castle is a 19th-century country house situated in Gosford, a townland of Markethill, County Armagh, Northern Ireland.
Enniskillen Castle
Castle · 15th century · #9 in Northern Ireland
Enniskillen Castle is situated in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.
Crom Castle
Palace & château · 19th century · #10 in Northern Ireland
Crom Castle is a country house on the shores of Upper Lough Erne in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is the seat of the Earls Erne.
Kinbane Castle
Ruin · 16th century · #11 in Northern Ireland
Kinbane Castle is located in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, on a headland between Ballycastle and Ballintoy.
Castle Coole
Palace & château · 18th century · #12 in Northern Ireland
Castle Coole is a townland and a late-18th-century neo-classical mansion situated in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.
Shane's Castle ruins
Ruin · 14th century · #13 in Northern Ireland
Shane's Castle is a ruined castle near Antrim in Northern Ireland, which was mostly destroyed in 1816 by fire.
Narrow Water Castle
Castle · 16th century · #14 in Northern Ireland
Narrow Water Castle is a 16th-century tower house and bawn near Warrenpoint in Northern Ireland.
Glenarm Castle
Palace & château · 17th century · #15 in Northern Ireland
Glenarm Castle, Glenarm, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, is the ancestral home of the Earl of Antrim.
Dundrum Castle
Ruin · 12th century · #16 in Northern Ireland
Dundrum Castle, a ruin standing over the town of Dundrum, County Down, Northern Ireland.
Ballygally Castle
Castle · 17th century · #17 in Northern Ireland
Ballygally Castle is in the village of Ballygally, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, located approximately 3 miles north of Larne.
Killyleagh Castle
Castle · 12th century · #18 in Northern Ireland
Killyleagh Castle is a castle in the village of Killyleagh, County Down, Northern Ireland.
Tandragee Castle
Castle · 19th century · #19 in Northern Ireland
The current Tandragee Castle, Tandragee, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, was rebuilt in 1837 by George Montagu, 6th Duke of Manchester as the…
Antrim Castle
Ruin · 17th century · #20 in Northern Ireland
Antrim Castle or Massereene Castle was a fortified mansion in Antrim, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, on the banks of the Sixmilewater River.
Moyry Castle
Castle · 17th century · #21 in Northern Ireland
Moyry Castle is a small 17th century castle in County Armagh, Northern Ireland.
Carra Castle
Ruin · 14th century · #22 in Northern Ireland
Carra Castle or Castle Carra is a ruined castle, just north of Cushendun, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It dates to around the early 14th century.
Olderfleet Castle
Ruin · #23 in Northern Ireland
Olderfleet Castle is a four-storey towerhouse, the remains of which stand on Curran Point to the south of Larne Harbour in Larne, County Antrim,…
Castle Caulfield
Ruin · 17th century · #24 in Northern Ireland
Castle Caulfield is a large ruined house situated in Castlecaulfield, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
Tully Castle
Ruin · 17th century · #25 in Northern Ireland
Tully Castle is a castle situated in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, near the village of Blaney, on Blaney Bay on the southern shore of Lower…
Monea Castle
Ruin · 17th century · #26 in Northern Ireland
Monea Castle is a castle located in Monea, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.
Altinaghree Castle
Ruin · 19th century · #27 in Northern Ireland
Altinaghree Castle or Liscloon House, known locally as Ogilby's Castle, is a large, derelict building situated outside Donemana, County Tyrone,…
Harry Avery's Castle
Ruin · #28 in Northern Ireland
Harry Avery's Castle is situated half a mile south-west of Newtownstewart, in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
Clough Castle
Ruin · 10th century · #29 in Northern Ireland
Clough Castle is a 12th century Anglo-Norman motte-and-bailey castle located in Clough, County Down, Northern Ireland.
Portora Castle
Ruin · 17th century · #30 in Northern Ireland
Portora Castle is a castle in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.
Necarne Castle
Castle · 17th century · #31 in Northern Ireland
Necarne Castle, also known as Castle Irvine, is a Victorian gothic house near Irvinestown in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.
Charlemont Fort
Fortress · 17th century · #32 in Northern Ireland
Charlemont Fort was a garrison situated in Charlemont, County Armagh. The fort was built in 1602 by Lord Mountjoy.
Roxborough Castle
Castle · 18th century · #33 in Northern Ireland
Roxborough Castle was a castle in Moy, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland originally built in 1738.
Bright Castle
Castle · 15th century · #34 in Northern Ireland
Bright Castle is a tower house near Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland.
King's Castle (Ardglass)
Castle · 12th century · #35 in Northern Ireland
King's Castle is a castle in Ardglass, County Down, Northern Ireland. It was originally built in the 12th century and additions were made at various…
Crevenish Castle
Ruin · 17th century · #36 in Northern Ireland
Crevenish Castle is a ruined castle and bawn in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, 3k south-west of Kesh at grid ref: H165626. It is privately owned.
Benburb Castle
Castle · #37 in Northern Ireland
Benburb Castle is a castle situated in Benburb, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
Castle Caldwell
Ruin · #38 in Northern Ireland
Castle Caldwell is a castle ruin in Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom. Castle Caldwell lies 57 metres above sea level.
Grey Point Fort
Fortress · 20th century · #39 in Northern Ireland
Grey Point Fort is a battery located at Helen's Bay on the south side of Belfast Lough. It was part of the defences of Belfast.

Frequently asked questions

How many castles are in Northern Ireland?

The Castle Map atlas maps 39 landmarks (13 castles · 2 fortresses · 8 palaces & châteaux · 16 ruins) in Northern Ireland — a curated selection of well-documented landmarks from Wikidata, not a count of every fortification ever built.

What is the most famous castle in Northern Ireland?

Hillsborough Castle, ranked #551 of 9,079 worldwide in the atlas's fame ranking, founded in the 18th century.

What is the oldest castle in Northern Ireland?

The oldest dated landmark in the atlas in Northern Ireland is Clough Castle, founded c. 1000. Earlier structures may have existed — this is the oldest with a documented founding year.

Where are most of the castles in Northern Ireland?

They cluster thickest around Belfast — 30 of the atlas's landmarks within 100 km, then Derry (28).