CASTLES WESTMEATH

Moydrum Castle stands as a striking ruin of Gothic Revival architecture near Athlone in County Westmeath. Designed by Sir Richard Morrison around 1812 for Lord Castlemaine, this imposing castellated country house features impressive limestone walls and romantic architectural details. The castle was burned during an Irish Republican Army reprisal in 1921 and has remained a picturesque ruin since, gaining cultural prominence when featured on the cover of U2's 'The Unforgettable Fire' album. The atmospheric remains now attract visitors and U2 enthusiasts, with interior walls showcasing memorable graffiti and offering commanding views of the surrounding Irish countryside.

Rattin Castle is a substantial late 15th or early 16th-century defensive tower in County Westmeath near Kinnegad, built to protect Anglo-Norman lands originally owned by Hugh de Lacy and granted to the D'Arcy family. Standing approximately 30 metres tall with entrances in its eastern wall, the castle was surrounded by a significant bawn wall that has since been removed. The fortress remained strategically important until the Irish Rebellion of 1641, when it was forfeited, and today its impressive ruins stand largely intact near the M6 motorway, a testament to its significance in the Anglo-Norman defensive system.