Built in the early 13th and bombarded in the 16th century, this massive Maynooth Castle lies in ruins, now a great tourist attraction

Maynooth Castle is mid to late 12th Century Norman castle in Ireland which stands at the entrance to the South Campus of Maynooth University. The Castle was built by the very powerful Fitzgerald family around the early 13th century. The Kildare Fitzgerald’s emerged as one of the most power families in Ireland with Maynooth Castle being one of the largest and richest Earl’s houses. The castle was a stronghold of the 16th-century historical figure Thomas FitzGerald, 10th Earl of Kildare better known as Silken Thomas.

A great stone castle which was founded in the early 13th century. Source

The area covered by modern Kildare was granted by Strongbow to Maurice Fitzgerald in 1176. The castle was built at the junction of two streams (“The Abhann Slad” and “The Lyreen”) and became the home of the Fitzgerald family. The Castle was constructed at the most westerly point of The Pale and apart from the Keep which was first built in the early 1200’s the remaining ruins seen today are additional fortifications dating from the 1400’s.