Killyleagh Castle Towers

Killyleagh Castle Towers in County Down, Northern Ireland, stands as Ireland's oldest continuously inhabited castle, with origins dating to 1180 when Norman knight John de Courcy established fortifications to defend against Viking incursions along Strangford Lough. The castle's distinctive Loire Valley chateau appearance—featuring round corner turrets, steeply sloping grey slate roof, and enhanced towers—was commissioned in the mid-19th century by Archibald Rowan-Hamilton under architect Sir Charles Lanyon's design. Remarkably resilient through centuries of conflict including Cromwellian sieges in 1649, the castle remains the home of the Hamilton family, with two towers recently opened as self-catering accommodation for visitors exploring this fairy-tale medieval fortress.