Ireland's castles & thatched roofs There are estimates that Ireland has between 1,000 and 3,000 castles throughout the country. Ireland's history is well documented for its notable and turbulent events. Medieval castles were built for defense from raiders. Centuries later, castles were built as homes by the very wealthy.
Blarney House sits in the middle of the of the Blarney parklands. It is a restored Scottish Baronial mansion that was built in 1874.
Bunratty Castle was built in 1425 to protect the village surrounding the castle in southern County Clare near the County Limerick line. The name came from the locals that translates to "Castle at the mouth of the Ratty." The Ratty is a river (Owengamey River or O'Garney River) which is part of the Shannon River tributary. It was not an easily navigable river. Shannon Heritage manages the castle and other national park grounds. Vikings were known to have raided this area. Bunratty was fully restored in 1954 by Viscount Lord Gort.
Kylemore Castle (see Rock of Cashel, Irish: Carraig Phádraig… "is huge, it’s complex, it’s iconic, there is nothing like it anywhere else in the world and it’s right here in Cashel at the heart of Tipperary. The Rock of Cashel (Carraig Phádraig), more formally St. Patrick’s Rock, is also known as Cashel of the Kings. Reputedly the site of the conversion of Aenghus the King of Munster by St. Patrick in the 5th century AD. Long before the Norman invasion, the Rock of Cashel was the seat of the High Kings of Munster, although there is little structural evidence of their time there. Most of the buildings on the current site date from the 12th and 13th centuries when the rock was gifted to the Church. The buildings represent both Hiberno‐ Romanseque and Germanic influences in their architecture." Thatched roofs of straw, reeds or heather have existed a long time and have been part of their culture. Historians tell us that thatched roofs have been existence for 9,000 years. As we traveled throughout Ireland, thatching was not very evident. One of the reasons is the cost, intense labor and skill involved in constructing the roof. This means that a roof would cost more than conventional modern roofs. But the historical and cultural value is appealing. A properly cut, dried and installed water reed thatched roof has a life expectancy of 60 years. Sources: https://www.ireland.com/en‐us/articles/tripideas/unique‐castles‐of‐ireland/, https://www.shannonheritage.com/, https://www.tripsavvy.com/the‐best‐ castles‐to‐visit‐in‐ireland‐4164295, https://www.ireland.com/en‐us/what‐is‐available/attractions‐built‐heritage/historic‐houses‐and‐castles/articles/irish‐ castles?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjtfTu8yn4QIVzkoNCh2ytgIbEAAYASAAEgKYl_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds, https://www.visitacity.com/en/galway/attractions/dunguaire‐ castle?gclid=EAIaIQobChMInJXr2uSn4QIVx4SzCh2oPQwkEAAYBCAAEgLdAvD_BwE, https://www.escapehere.com/inspiration/15‐amazing‐castles‐of‐ ireland/?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=EH_GGL_US_DESK‐DynamicSearch&utm_content=s_c_273415455786&cus_widget=dsa‐ 379794749666&utm_term=&cus_teaser=&utm_acid=6088014985&utm_caid=1420964810&utm_agid=53371796862&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjtfTu8yn4QIVzkoNCh2ytgI bEAAYAyAAEgI2m_D_BwE, https://www.lonelyplanet.com/ireland/travel‐tips‐and‐articles/ten‐must‐see‐castles‐in‐ireland/40625c8c‐8a11‐5710‐a052‐1479d276a46a, https://blog.creativeirishgifts.com/blog/the‐castles‐of‐ireland‐bunratty‐castle/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgKTng_Kn4QIVylSGCh1bUgg9EAAYBSAAEgKIpfD_BwE, https://www.irelandbeforeyoudie.com/10‐best‐castles‐visit‐ireland/, http://www.ballybegvillage.com/thatching.html, https://www.formerglory.ie/thatching‐faqs/ https://www.discoverireland.ie/Arts‐Culture‐Heritage/blarney‐house‐gardens/69958, https://www.cashel.ie/rock‐of‐cashel/ and https://www.irishcentral.com/travel/best‐of‐ireland/beautiful‐castles‐ireland. acuri.net John R. Vincenti and Carol Bergamaschi Ireland Castles & Thatched Roofs