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Rock of Dunamase
Storm the castle at Rock of Dunamase, a fortress dating back to the 12th century and once pillaged by Vikings. The rock itself stands above a flat plain, which holds the castle ruins and offers picturesque views of the countryside. The structure has passed through many hands, including the Normans and local Irish lords, and local tradition says it was besieged and blown up by the Cromwellian generals in 1651. While there are no records of these events, it is probably the best explanation for the ruins you can explore today. Take care when navigating the castle, as some parts can be dangerous. Add Rock of Dunamase to your Portlaoise travel itinerary, and discover new vacation ideas by using our Portlaoise trip planning tool .
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Rock of Dunamase Reviews
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Recently we visited the Rock of Dunamase for a guided tour by Trudi. She was marvellous, went into great detail about the history of the area and really brought it to life. I loved the way she looked ... more »
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Perfect little stop on a road trip from Dublin. No charge to visit and beautiful views of the country side. Loved exploring the ruins and walking around. more »
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Wonderful! You can actually crawl all over this place. With nice weather, the views are beautifu! Best at sunset if you can do it. Not overly crowded either which was nice. Hard to find but worth it i... more »
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Beautiful place, fantastic history.. well worth the walk around. Lovely little church near also.
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Located between Stradbally and Portlaoise road. Visible from the road as well. The location was mentioned and described in the movie 'leap year'. Historical place that has a lovely view from the top however as it is mostly ruins make sure you mind your step and especially children. The only downside is that it is physically rather small and unless you want to meditate or just relax you will not be able to spend much time there (it does get very windy and cold).
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Fortified site built on a limestone outcrop with cliffs on three sides. It is so old it may even be the site referenced as "Dunum" by Ptolemy 1000 years ago. Today, very little is recognisable from the fortifications which must have been almost impregnable in their day. However there are a couple of good information panels to help make sense of it. It's a great place for a picnic. Not wheelchair accessible.
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This castle is south west of Kildare and is largely a ruin but the site for it was chosen with great care at the time of its building. There is a panoramic view of the countryside in all directions from this location and it would have been a very strategic site in its day. It is free of charge to wander around and is worth a visit if you are in the area. It is only a short distance off the N7 so easily accessed.
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This is a very nice place to visit during the summer particularly. Nice walks around and good views when you reach the top of the rock. Easy to get to the top Quiet place and would be a good place to have a picnic . There is no charge to get into the site, A very good history to this place..
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