Kinvara - History - Dunguaire Castle

Dunguaire Castle

Dunguaire Castle (Irish Dún Guaire ), one of the principal towerhouses of the Ó hEidhin (O Hynes) clan, is located to the east of the village. According to the great 19th century Gaelic scholar John O'Donovan, the castle was built by Éamonn Ó hEidhin or Eoghann Mantach Ó hEidhin in the early 16th century. Lewis's Topographical dictionary (1831) states that a certain Rory More Dearg O Shaughnessy was the builder but this is probably an explanation from local folklore and not based on any fact as the O Shaughnessy's (kinsmen of the Ó hEidhin clan) territory of Kinelea lay five miles southeast of Kinvara. It was occupied by Fiacha Ó hEidhin towards the end of the 16th century. This towerhouse is believed to have been built on or close to the site of Dúrlas Guaire the main residence of Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin, the 7th-century king of Uí Fhiachrach Aidhne and Connacht. The rath (earthen enclosure) on the small peninsula east of Dún Guaire is thought to be the remains of Dúrlas Guaire also called Ráth Dúrlais.

Dunguaire Castle was used as a filming location for the Scottish castle home of the main character in the 1979 film North Sea Hijack.