Carrickmines Castle

Carrickmines Castle is a medieval fortress in County Dublin with towers, curtain walls, and a keep carved into the bedrock. The remains are now built into the M50 motorway roundabouts and are not accessible to visitors for safety reasons.

Built in medieval times, the castle was home to the Walsh family. It was besieged by English forces in 1642 during the Irish Rebellion, resulting in heavy casualties among defenders.

The ruins sit beneath and beside the M50 motorway roundabouts, making it an unusual archaeological location today. Excavations uncovered thousands of objects including weapons, coins, and pottery from medieval times.

The site is visible from the M50 roundabout but direct visits are not possible. The best way to understand the location is to walk around the motorway area, where you can see the remains beneath the modern structures.

In the 1980s, a local group called Carrickminders fought against the motorway construction to protect the archaeological site. Though building continued, their campaign led to extensive excavations that uncovered 40,000 artifacts.