Jigginstown Castle, Tower house and national monument in Naas, Ireland
Jigginstown Castle is a tower house near Naas with red brick walls and marble details visible in its surviving sections. The basement and ground floor levels remain standing today, showing the building style of the 1600s.
Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, built this residence in the 1630s as a potential royal estate during King Charles I's rule. The project reflected political plans to shape relations between England and Ireland at that time.
The red brick exterior came from Holland, showing how this place connected to wider European trade networks. The carved stonework and marble details reflect the importance and wealth of those who owned it.
The site can be viewed from outside, though access to the interior may be limited. Wear comfortable shoes as the ground is uneven and there are no developed paths around the ruins.
This was one of the first estates in Ireland to use imported Dutch brick on such a large scale, showing how modern it was for its time. This building method was unusual among Irish nobles then and inspired later mansions built nearby.
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