McDermott Castle in Ros Comain

Nice to know, Wikipedia text:" In 2019, archaeological excavations were also undertaken on the island.[11] The excavations concluded that the island itself is essentially a multi-period fortification, with the earliest elements dating to the early medieval era. An earlier, two to three meter thick enclosure wall pre-dating the standing enclosure wall was excavated at a depth of a meter and a half. Medieval buildings dating to the thirteenth century were excavated on the northern side of the island above the earlier fortification, but were not found to be connected to the standing enclosure wall. High-status Gaelic artifacts were discovered, including silver pins, a gaming piece, and large collections of butchered cattle, boar, and sheep. The research on the island was featured in Archaeology Magazine.[12]"By the way, Tinhs claiming of the castles destruction by the 2nd WW is not true!

Class piece of cultural history, well worth the effort

Lough Key Forest Park (in County Roscommon, province of Connachtis home to over thirty wooded islands. The stunning McDermott’s Castle is on Castle Island, a small island the size of about 2,300 square meters. Located just about 3 km northeast of the town of Boyle, in recent years, it has been open to the public.The McDermott clan (in Irish Mac Diarmadawas the ruling dynasty in this area from the 10th to the 16th century and a castle has stood on the island since the early 12th century. In 1184, the Annals of Loch Cé reported that a lightning bolt caused a fire over the Castle.The McDermotts lost the island in 1586 and the current castle is a folly built in the late 1700s by the King family who owned the land at the time. It was burned down during the Second World War and although most of the castle is in ruins, some beautiful features are still intact.While there is so much history about this Roscommon castle and island, there is a tragic story surrounding them: the legend of Úna Bhán.Úna was the daughter of the Chieftain, McDermott, whose name gives rise to the castle.Úna fell in love with a boy who her father believed wasn’t good enough for her. As such, they had a relationship in secret.The boy would swim across the lake to meet Úna, but unfortunately, on one occasion, he didn’t make it and subsequently drowned.The story goes that Úna died of a broken heart and that two trees grew up over their graves, intertwining to form a lover’s knot.The Lough Key Park and Estate are open all year round for the public to explore, and daily boat tours operate year-round throughout Lough Key. Parking is also available in Lough Key Forest Park.Admire the sand-coloured stone walls, turrets, and empty windows that once overlooked the chilly Lough Key waters.Much of the island is completely overgrown with ivy, but you can still get a sense of the grandeur present during the years the castle was lived in.The neighbouring islands have ruins of churches, towers, and priories, and it is also believed that there are many unmarked or lost graves scattered across them.Be sure to explore these as well – they really add to the beauty and magic of the area. Head to the nearby Trinity Island, which is where the tomb of Úna Bhán is said to be.Castle Island was up for sale in 2018 for just €90,000 but was taken off the market.While the castle is described as being in a “perilous state”, we can only imagine how beautiful McDermott’s Castle would be if it got restored to its former glory!McDermotts Castle (Castle Islandis also on the list of The National Monument of Ireland.Ireland is considered as one of the countries with most castles in the world, beside Germany and Wales, with more than 20,000 castles here.* Photos courtesy of Internet and Facebook. Thanks!

Amazing spectacle on Lough Key.

Spectacular experience out on Lough key boats

Nice location beautiful Nature Scenery view

Nice to visit! Especially in sunny days to make picnic! Parking fee is 4€, and to have beautiful picture of the castle you need dron!:)

Bangunan yang bagus dengan filosofi dan estetika.

Very nice

Great ruins in a remote area in north part of Ireland. A place you should go.

One big waste of time for those attracted by old aerial pictures

The boat trip that brings you close to the Island was fun.. entertaining with the history of the place beautifully presented

Magical in its own way

LocationMcDermotts Castle is located on Castle Island, an island of 0.23 ha (0.57 acin the southeast corner of Lough Key.HistoryThe Mac Diarmada were the ruling dynasty of Magh Luirg (Moylurg; northeast Connachtfrom the 10th to 16th centuries. A castle stood on this island from the 12th century: in 1184, the Annals of Loch Cé report that a lightning bolt caused a fire:The Rock of Loch-Cé was burned by lightning, i.e. thevery magnificent, kingly residence of the descendents of Máel Ruanaidwhere neither goods nor people of all that werethere found protection; where six score, or seven score, ofdistinguished persons were destroyed, along with fifteenmen of the race of kings and chieftains, with the wife ofMac Diarmada, i.e. the daughter of Ó hEidhin, and hissons wife, i.e. the daughter of Domhnall OConchobhair,and the daughter of Ó Dubhda, and the son of DonnchadhOMaelbhrenuinn, and the son of Donn OMannachain,and the two daughters of OMannachain, and Mac Maenaigh,chieftain of Cenél-Builg, and the priest OMaelbealtaine,and Gillachiarain Ó Connachtain, (i.e. a son ofchastity and lamp of piety), and a countless destructionbesides of good men; and every one of them who was notburned was drowned in this tumultuous consternation,in the entrance of the place; so that there escaped notalive therefrom but Conchobar mac Diarmatawith avery small number of the multitude of his people.A rebuilt castle featured in the final part of the 1235 conquest of Connacht by Richard Mór de Burgh, 1st Baron of Connaught. The castle came under siege, first by a raft-mounted catapult, and then by fire ships. Cormac MacDermott, King of Moylurg, was forced to surrender.A poem addressed to Tomaltach an Einigh mac Diarmata (King of Moylurg 1421–58tells the story of the Hag of Lough Key who used (or abused) Cormac MacDermotts (king 1218–44hospitality by staying on the Rock for a full year, and laid upon the McDermotts the obligation of perpetual hospitality.The McDermotts lost the island in 1586. Eochaidh Ó hÉoghusa wrote a poem lamenting the castles emptiness.In 2014 the island and castle featured in an episode of sitcom Moone Boy, as the residence of the mysterious "Island Joe."BuildingIsaac Weld, writing in 1832, describes as part of "the castle proper" two rooms, one above the other, each 36 × 22 feet (11 × 7 m), with walls 7½ feet (2.2 mthick. It is not clear whether this refers to part of the original castle, or the later construction.Currently a folly castle built c. 1800 by the King family stands on the island. It was built as a summer house and burned down during the Second World War(Copy to wikipedia)

I only saw the castel from the boat. No landing tour available.