Croom Castle, Medieval castle in Croom, Ireland
Croom Castle is a castle ruin on the bank of the River Maigue in County Limerick, Ireland. Two walls remain standing at roughly half their original height, rising directly above the water's edge.
The O'Donovan family built a fortress here in the early 13th century, and the FitzGeralds later took control and made it their main seat. That shift in ownership shaped the balance of power in this part of Limerick for a long time.
The FitzGerald family battle cry 'Crom a Boo' takes its name directly from the Irish name of this place. Visitors walking through the ruins can still feel how deeply this family tied their identity to the site.
The ruins sit on the bank of the River Maigue near the town of Croom, reached from the N20 road between Limerick and Charleville. Sturdy footwear is a good idea, as the ground around the old walls is uneven and can be slippery after rain.
In the 9th and 10th centuries, Vikings sailed their ships up the River Maigue because the river carried tidal flows much further inland than it does today. This made the spot a point of contact for trade long before the castle was ever built.
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