A lonely location on the Shannon Estuary adds to the romantic drama of this late-medieval castle . Its name comes from Carragain Phoill (Rock of the Hole); it’s built in a channel between the mainland and Carrig Island. Built by the O’Connors, who ruled most of northern Kerry, the castle was besieged by the English in 1580, retaken by O’Connor, and finally destroyed by Cromwell’s forces in 1649. You can climb the spiral staircase to the top for a good view of the estuary.
