Parke’s Castle
On the north side of the Lough Gill Drive, just over the County Leitrim border, Parke’s Castle stands out as a lone outpost amid the natural tableau of lake view and woodland scenery. Named after an English family that gained possession of it during the 1620 plantation of Leitrim (when land was confiscated from the Irish and given to favored English families), this castle was originally the stronghold of the O’Rourke clan, rulers of the Kingdom of Bréifne. Beautifully restored using Irish oak and traditional craftsmanship, it exemplifies the 17th-century fortified manor house. At this writing access to the upper levels was restricted due to restoration work; this should be finished by summer 2018. In the visitor center, informative exhibits and a splendid audio-visual show illustrate the history of the castle and the surrounding area.
On the north side of the Lough Gill Drive, just over the County Leitrim border, Parke’s Castle stands out as a lone outpost amid the natural tableau of lake view and woodland scenery. Named after an English family that gained possession of it during the 1620 plantation of Leitrim (when land was confiscated from the Irish and given to favored English families), this castle was originally the stronghold of the O’Rourke clan, rulers of the Kingdom of Bréifne. Beautifully restored using Irish oak and traditional craftsmanship, it exemplifies the 17th-century fortified manor house. At this writing access to the upper levels was restricted due to restoration work; this should be finished by summer 2018. In the visitor center, informative exhibits and a splendid audio-visual show illustrate the history of the castle and the surrounding area.
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