THROUGH MY LENS - Portumna Castle (Part 1 )

Recently I showed you the Irish Workhouse  (Part1) and (Part 2) in Portumna and now at the opposite end of this town, I am showing you Portumna Castle.  Because of a fire years ago, most of the building is closed but there is a very good exhibit on the main floor of the history of the castle and I did get a guided tour of the first floor which is being restored. But visiting this directly after the Workhouse was an expedition full of irony.  However, the gardens were magnificent and I will show you those this Wednesday.  so now let us go through these imposing gates.

Portumna Castle and Demesne occupy a magnificent location on the shores of Lough Derg on the River Shannon. Although gutted by fire in 1826, the Castle is still an imposing example of Irish architecture of the early 17th Century. Built before 1618 by Richard de Burgo, 4th Earl of Clanricarde, the castle became the main seat of the de Burgo family for over 200 years.

Architecturally, the building marks the transition from the medieval Tower House to the Renaissance style manor house with complimentary influences from both periods. Following the fire and the ravages of time, the castle degenerated into a roofless shell. However, since 1968, the Office of Public Works re-roofed the building and based on extensive archaeological and historical research, other major conservation and partial restoration works continue to be carried out by a team of skilled craftsmen.

 The imposing façade of the castle faces north and is approached by a long avenue and formal gardens. 

Portumna castle was built in the Renaissance style already prevalent in Italy and France for over a century, but not commonly found in Ireland or England at that time. The Renaissance features of the exterior are, strictly speaking, limited to the door case of the front entrance and the Tuscan gateway of the innermost courtyard, but the layout is an expression of Renaissance ideas. The castle is symmetrical in shape and consists of three stories over a basement with square corner projecting towers. The castle measures 29.7m by 21.2m and the corner towers are 6.5m square with gun ports. A central corridor, 3m wide, runs longitudinally from top to bottom, supported by stone walls, which contain numerous recesses and fireplaces.

If you wish to read more about the Portumna Castle Story and a Story of Ireland, click HERE.

Please pop in on Wednesday to see the beautiful gardens.

I am linking this post with THROUGH MY LENS

Many thanks for your visit and comments