Location: Killarney National Park Map
Constructed: late 15th century by O'Donoghue clan
Ross Castle is a medieval castle that is found within borders of Killarney National Park. Ross Castle was erected in late 15th century by O'Donoghue clan. A local legend claims that the castle is haunted by a couple of youngsters. In a classic story of Romeo and Juliet they fell in love, decided to escape the prohibition of their clans to marry one another. It is said that Orwin accidentally drowned during escape attempt, while her loved one Sabrina died several days later from a broken heart. Many tourists reported seeing full body apparitions in Ross Castle, heard strange screams and felt sudden cold spots that are said to be manifestations of ghostly activity.
Ross Castle (irl. Caisleán an Rois) - located near the town of
Killarney in County Kerry, Ireland. It is the clan’s nest of the
O’Donoghue clan, but is better known for being part of the Browns
family. The castle stands on the shores of Loch Lane Lake nearby in
Killarney National Park.
Ross Castle was built at the end of the 15th century by the local
ruling clan O’Donoghue, after which the structure was repeatedly
changed hands during the Desmond Uprising of 1580. As a result, the
castle was rented by Sir Valentine Brown, Earl of Kenmar. During the
war with the British, led by Oliver Cromwell, Ross fell one of the
last. However, the former tenants regained the building, having
managed to prove that their heir was too young to participate in the
uprising.
In the middle of the XVII century, for the accession of the Browns
to one of the warring British parties - to Jacob II, tenants were
again expelled from Ross. Soldiers' barracks that existed here until
the beginning of the 19th century were set up in the vacated
premises. Thanks to its history, Ross Castle has become a symbol of
the Irish struggle for independence.
The castle is a typical building of the Irish leaders of the Middle
Ages. Thick walls with round corner towers and a massive tower in
the center.
There is a legend that says that the head of the O’Donoghue clan was
"sucked out" by an unknown force from the window of his room, along
with all the furniture, books and a horse. He flew some distance and
drowned in a lake near the castle. It is believed that O’Donoghue
lives in a large palace at the bottom of the lake and carefully
monitors everything that happens on the surface.