There are several hundred castles all across Ireland and we visited about a half dozen of them. They are in varying states of upkeep and many are ruins. At their height all had a primarily military purpose and each has a history lesson attached. Ireland has had a violent past - from waves of occupation (Vikings followed by Normans followed by the English), several cruel wars (such as Cromwell's war as a response to the Irish Rebellion which left 1/3 of the population dead) and natural disasters such as droughts and extreme cold which killed hundreds of thousands.
Many of the castles were built in the early Middle ages and changed shape and ownership often to reflect the changing military and political fortunes. It was moving to walk through them and learn about their history. The two pictures show Bunratty Castle and Kilkenny castle which are among the ones most well preserved and look back at an eventful past. Kilkenny castle has the most amazing green yard / meadow that I have ever stepped on - huge and soft :)
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