Rahinnane Castle

Rahinnane Castle is a castle ruin in County Kerry featuring the remains of a rectangular tower with corner turrets and surrounding fortified walls. The preserved elements include an internal mural stairway, traces of vaulting, and blind arcade details within the enclosed structure.

The castle was built in the fifteenth or sixteenth century by the Knights of Kerry from the FitzGerald family on the site of an earlier ringfort. This layering of structures demonstrates how the location remained strategically important across different periods.

The site reveals how Norman families shaped Irish settlement patterns and the role these fortifications played in local power structures. Visitors can see how earlier ringfort residents and later medieval builders used the same strategic location.

The site is best explored during daylight hours when the structural details are clearly visible. Wear sturdy footwear as the terrain is uneven and the ruins sit in open countryside.

The site contains an underground passage called a souterrain located in the southeast section of the fortified ditch. This hidden structure is a rare feature that reveals earlier building techniques incorporated into the later castle design.

Location: County Kerry

GPS coordinates: 52.14305,-10.38323

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:05