Ross Castle
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Ross Castle is the ancestral home of the O'Donoghue clan. It is located in Ireland on the edge of Lough Leane the largest of Killarney's famous lakes in Killarney National Park. It is approximately a mile from Killarney town centre down Ross Road.
Ross Castle was the last castle to surrender to the Roundheads or Cromwellians during the Irish Confederate Wars. The castle was a typical stronghold of an Irish chieftain during the middle ages. The tower house had square bartizans on diagonally opposite corners and a thick end wall. The tower was originally surrounded by a square bawn defended by round corner towers on each end.
There is a legend that O’Donoghue leaped or was sucked out of the window of the grand chamber at the top of the castle and disappeared into the waters of the lake along with his horse, his table and his library. It is said that O’Donoghue now lives in a great palace at the bottom of the lake where he keeps a close eye on everything that he sees.
It is possible to go on boat-trips on the lake leaving from Ross Castle during the summer. Some of the smaller boats will allow you to visit Innisfallen Island on the lake during the summer. Ross Castle is located along the Ring of Kerry, a scenic driving route, and the Kerry Way, a similar hiking path.
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