CASTLES OF IRELAND TOUR
Castles in Ireland are prominent features dotted throughout Ireland. They were used as defensive fortresses in Anglo Norman times and many are still in ruins, standing defiantly on high platforms. However quite a number have been restored to their former glory for all to see.

This CD-Rom contains 24 virtual interactive tours of castles in Ireland. Original music and song, together with narration and text, as well as a slideshow and screensaver will bestow upon the viewer the feeling of living in the Castles of Ireland. From the famed Bunratty Castle where fine food , wine, song and dance are still enjoyed to the ruins of Trim Castle where the film Braveheart was shot.

Menu Buttons (see on above screenshot)
AUTO - This button sets the cd rom to automatically run through the 24 locations (12 mins)
MANUAL - Brings up a map of Ireland, you then click on the place of interest on the map.
SLIDESHOW- This is a slideshow of 24 Pictures of Ireland
SCREENSAVER - This installs a beautiful screensaver onto your PC
IRELAND SONG - This plays our own Look Around Ireland song with the words
VOLUME - Allows you to adjust the volume of audio
TEXT BOX - This box is where the text on each location can be read
VIEW MAP - Clicking this button brings up a the main map on your screen
LEGEND - Shows you symbols to zoom in / out and enter doorways on each image
WEBSITE - A link to our (this) website
HELP - Help menu explaining various things / operations on the cd rom
QUIT - Press this to quit or end your session on the cd rom

Parkes Castle, Leitrim
This impressive manor house sits on the shores of one of Ireland's most beautiful lakes, Lough Gill. The splendour of Parkes Castle is immediately evident as you drive around the lake.

Birr Castle, Offaly
Most visitors to Birr come to see the castle and grounds, which are among the finest in Ireland. Most of the present structure dates from around 1620 when Sir Laurence Parsons was granted the estate.

Blarney Castle, Cork
Just outside Cork City lies the village of Blarney. Here you will see the picturesque Blarney castle and the celebrated and much kissed sacred stone which is said to give you the gift of gab

Malahide Castle, Fingal
Malahide Castle is very unique in Ireland because the Talbot family managed to keep control of the castle for 791 years.

Trim Castle, Meath
Trim Castle is the largest remaining Anglo-Norman castle in Europe and stands at the edge of the area once known as The Pale.

Aughnanure Castle, Galway
The 'ferocious O'Flaherties', masters of the whole territory of west Connaught, built this fine castle in the early sixteenth century, possibly on the site of the thirteenth-century Norman fortification.

Tullynally Castle, Westmeath
Tullynally has been owned by the Pakenhams, later Earls of Longford, since the 17th century.

Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny
The first structure on this strategic site overlooking the River Nore was a wooden tower built in 1172 by the Anglo-Norman conqueror of Ireland, Richard de Clare, also known as Strongbow.

Roscommon Castle, Roscommon
Roscommon Castle is located just outside Roscommon town. It was built in 1269 by Robert de Ufford, Justiciciar of Ireland, on lands he had seized from the Augustinian Priory.

Manorhamilton Castle, Leitrim
The chief object of interest in Manorhamilton is the ruined baronial mansion built in 1634 by Sir Fredrick Hamilton. There is now a Heritage Centre in the grounds of the old castle.

Doon Castle, Offaly
Doon Castle now lies in ruins and is located 7 miles east of Clonmacnoise. On the doorway of the southeast corner of the building is a well-preserved Sheela-na-Gig, which appears to have been carved standing though she is built into the building on her side.

Ballaghmore Castle, Co. Laois
Ballaghmore Castle is a unique and beautiful place. Set in the Irish midlands in Co. Laois, it is the perfect setting for a relaxing rural break in luxurious and historic surroundings.

King Johns Castle, Co. Limerick
King John's Castle was founded by King John in 1200AD not long after the Norman invasion in 1171AD. This castle is an imposing site with its five drum towers and tall curtain walls.

Dromoland Castle, Co. Clare
Dromoland Castle is one of Ireland's most famous baronial Castles. Dating from the 16th Century, the Castle is the ancestral seat of the O'Briens, direct descendants of the High King Brian Boru.

Knappogue Castle, Co. Clare
Sean Mac-Con MacNamara built the original tower house of Knappogue Castle in 1467. During the 1641 Rebellion, the castle was occupied by Cromwellian forces.

Bunratty Castle, Co. Clare
Bunratty Castle was built in 1425. During the 16th and 17th centuries it was an important stronghold of the O'Briens, kings and later earls, of Thomond or North Munster.

Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford
Johnstown Castle is located 7 km SW of Wexford town and was the former home of the Fitzgerald and Esmond families.

Carbury Castle, Co. Kildare
Carbury Castle is located up on a hill behind the village. The motte near Carbury Castle was probably built by Milla Fitzhenry who was granted the area by Strongbow.

Dunhill Castle, Waterford
Dunhill is situated off the R675 on the coast to Annestown. The town's name is derived from the Irish translation of the fort of the rock.

Ballymoon Castle, Carlow
Like so many Irish castles, Ballymoon has no recorded history, but on architectural grounds it must have been built c.1290-1310.

Killarney Castle, Kerry
There are few castles anywhere in Ireland that can boast such a dream-like enchanted setting as this ruined tower house on the shore of Killarney's lower lake.

Cahir Castle, Tipperary
Cahir Castle is a great 15th-century Butler castle near the town centre of Cahir.