History

  Located near Ballysteen, Beagh Castle (pronounced ‘bay’ [1, 2]) was built for strategic purposes on the estuary of the Shannon river, in county Limerick, to oversee the navigation along the river.
  The castle was built by the Fitzgeralds of Desmond in the 13th century on the site of a previous Viking settlement, as an outpost fortification [1, 2, 3]. In fact, legends say that a Viking prince, after his conversion to Christianity, returned to the place where the castle stands and built a chapel in the 820s [1, 4].
  Probably around 1260, the castle passed to the Knights of Glin, descending from the Fitzgerald [1, 3]. The castle remained in the hands of the Fitzgeralds till 1578, when was confiscated and given to William Dury [1]. In 1657, after the Cromwellian invasion of Ireland (1649 1659), for only three years Sir Hardress Waller held the castle, before being arrested in February 1660 after staging a coup in a failed attempt to prevent the restoration of Charles II [1].
  In the early 19th century, Beagh castle was used as a defensive outpost on the Shannon river during the Napoleonic Wars [1, 3]. Later, from 1835 to 1860, the castle served as a coastguard station [1]. Beside the castle, there are five 300 years old cottages, that were originally occupied by soldiers during the Napoleonic wars [4] and then by coastguard officers and that nowadays have been renovated to host tourists [2].
  In recent years, Beagh Castle and the cottages form a beautiful touristic residence: the restored cottages looking out at the castle and the river have been converted into holiday homes and are the perfect place for a fantastic holiday immersed in history and nature [2].
  This astonishing castle witnessed the fluctuating fortunes of Normans, Vikings and ancient Irish Celts [2] through centuries of Irish and European history and will let a curious visitor fall in love with it.

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Tips

  A cloudless sky on a warm May, Sunday. That was when we first visited Beagh Castle. We decided to go for a walk along the banks of the Shannon estuary, in Ballysteen, not far from Askeaton (another beautiful gem resides there, but that's a different story for another day...).
  As we were heading towards the pier, the ruined castle, an imposing tower house, was there, safeguarding the river and the International Shannon Airport.
  I will be honest: it was a real challenge to climb towards the castle from the quay side. Plenty of slippery rocks and a portion of damp grass. When we finally managed to get in, we were delighted by the inside. Beagh has the most beautiful ceiling. We invite you to visit the place. You might even go for a swim if the tide is in or simply admire the surroundings. We also found out that the five 300-year-old cottages aligned beside the castle have actually been renovated and are now beautiful accommodations for tourists.
You might consider going for an afternoon treat, a coffee or a tasty scone.