Baggotrath Castle

Baggotrath Castle was a rectangular limestone structure built on the banks of the River Dodder, incorporating multiple defensive features into its walls and towers. The building stood prominently above the river flats and functioned as a fortified residence for several centuries.

The castle was built in the early 1300s by the Bagod family and later passed to the Fitzwilliams, who held it as a residence until the middle of the 1500s. It survived several ownership changes and political upheavals for over three centuries before being demolished.

The castle's name shaped Dublin's urban layout, with street names like Baggot Street and Baggotrath Lane carrying forward the memory of what once stood here.

The site was located at numbers 44-46 Upper Baggot Street facing Waterloo Road and was easy to reach before being completely demolished between 1821 and 1842. Visitors today can trace its location only through street names and local landmarks.

The fortress played a key role in the 1649 Battle of Rathmines when Colonel Michael Jones repelled Royalist forces attempting to seize it. This engagement became a turning point in the wider campaign and remains significant in Irish military history.

GPS coordinates: 53.33350,-6.24305

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:08