Leighlinbridge Castle, Norman castle in Leighlinbridge, Ireland.
Leighlinbridge Castle is a stone fortress on the banks of the River Barrow built with a four-sided defensive wall and a keep positioned at the northwestern corner. The surviving ruins and tower remain visible and accessible to visitors today.
The castle was built in 1180 by Hugh de Lacy to protect river crossings and serve as a military center for the entire Leinster region. It became an important point of control in medieval defense of this strategic area.
The name comes from the dark stone used when the structure was rebuilt during medieval times. The black walls still define how the place looks today.
You can visit the ruins during daylight hours, and sturdy shoes are recommended for walking on the uneven ground. The site sits right beside the river, so it is best to avoid the banks when they are wet.
The owners collected payments from English monarchs for generations to guarantee safe passage on the main road through Leinster. This arrangement made the fortress a powerful force in controlling regional trade.
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