Donegal Castle, Ireland

The Donegal Castle is a 16th century castle located in the centre of Donegal town, County of Donegal in the northwestern Ireland. The castle was built around 1505 by the O'Donnell family although was its main tower supposedly built in the 15th century. After the Nine Years War from 1594 to 1603 the O'Donnell family abandoned the Donegal Castle and before their departure severely damaged the castle to make it useless for the English.



In 1611 the castle passed to an English Captain, Basil Brooke. Since then was the Donegal Castle for many generations in the possession of the Brooke family who quickly restored it. During the Williamite War of Ireland or Jacobite War in Ireland from 1689 to 1691 was the Donegal Castle held by the followers of King William III of England and managed to withstand the attacks of the Jacobite forces. Despite that the castle afterwards decayed and in the 18th century fell into ruins. In 1898 was the Donegal Castle donated by Earl of Arran to the Office of Public Works which renovated and opened it to the public.