Castle Roche

Castle Roche is a remarkable 13th-century fortress built in 1236 by the De Verdun family on a steep rocky outcrop in County Louth, marking a significant distinction as the site ordered built by Lady Rohesia de Verdun, the first recorded woman to commission a castle in Ireland. Its unusual triangular design suits the dramatic rocky setting, and its strong walls and deep moat rendered it virtually impregnable. Positioned at the strategic boundary between the Gaelic province of Ulster and the Anglo-Norman Pale, the castle commands extensive views and remains a protected National Monument.