Derryquin Castle

Derryquin Castle was a castle ruin in the Parknasilla estate near Sneem, originally featuring a three-storey main block with a four-storey octagonal tower at its center and a two-storey curved wing. The structure dominated this property with its distinctive vertical elements and balanced layout.

The Bland family, who settled in Ireland from Yorkshire in the early 1600s, built the castle as a symbol of their growing prosperity in County Kerry. During the Irish independence movement, the building was attacked in 1922 and ultimately demolished completely in 1969.

The castle served as a reference in Sir Francis Christopher Bland's novel 'Ashes in the Wind', connecting literature to local heritage.

The site lies southwest of Killarney along the Ring of Kerry route and is now part of the Parknasilla Hotel property. Visitors should know that only ruins and remains are visible, since the original castle no longer stands.

The castle served as inspiration for Sir Francis Christopher Bland's novel 'Ashes in the Wind', linking literary works to local history. This literary connection makes the location particularly interesting for those drawn to local history and Irish literature.