Dundrum Castle
13th Century Castle
Dundrum Castle is located in Dundrum village between Downpatrick and Newcastle.
Dundrum Castle was built shortly before 1210, on an earlier fortified site, the castle is set high on a hill overlooking the sea and had a circular keep within a walled enclosure. Begun by John de Courcy, who led the 1177 Anglo-Norman invasion of east Ulster, to guard the land routes from Dublin, Drogheda via Greencastle to Downpatrick. It was visited by King John in 1210, who spent money for minor works to the castle and paid for garrison there.
Subsequently the castle was held by the Earls of Ulster and, from the middle of the 14th Century, by the Magennises of Mourne who enlarged it. Captured by the Earl of Kildare in 1517 and by Lord Deputy Grey in 1538, the castle was surrendered to the Crown in 1601 by Phelim Magennis, granted to Edward Lord Cromwell and sold to the Blundell family. The Magennises took the castle briefly in 1641, but the Blundells returned after the war and built a house on the south edge of the castle.
Facilities:
- Free Car Park
- Toilets
- Guided Tours
Access: (Open July and August only)
| October - March | |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 10am - 4pm |
| Sunday | 2pm - 4pm |
| April - September | |
| Closed on Mondays | |
| Tuesday - Saturday | 10am - 7pm |
| Sunday | 2pm - 7pm |
Access may be difficult for wheelchair users.
Admission: Free
(Children under 16 years must be accompanied by an adult)
Customer Contact: (028) 9181 1491
Contact:
Environment and Heritage ServiceCommonwealth House
35 Castle Street
Belfast
BT1 1GU
Tel: (028) 9054 6754
Fax: (028) 9054 6516
Email: ehsinfo@doeni.gov.uk
Website: www.ehsni.gov.uk
