Cloughoughter Castle in Lough Oughter, County Cavan, Ireland

© 4H4 PH/Shutterstoc

A time-worn mediaeval marvel. Cloughoughter Castle, County Cavan, Ireland

Cloughoughter Castle, located in County Cavan, Ireland, sits atop a rocky outcrop on a small island in the middle of Lough Oughter, a complex of multiple lakes and waterways. The first stones of the castle are thought to have been laid in the early 13th century by the Anglo-Normans. The simple cylindrical structure was designed to be both beautiful and functional, strategically positioned to control the waterways and provide defence for the surrounding area. The castle and surrounding lands changed hands over the next few centuries until it was bombed and abandoned in 1653. Since then, it has been in ruins, leaving it with weathered stone walls, resplendent in a sort of tattered grandeur. It is a symbol of Ireland's medieval heritage and a must-see for history enthusiasts and castle admirers alike.