Ashtown Castle

About this place

Ashtown Castle (Irish: Caisleán Bhaile an Ásaigh) is a tower house in the Phoenix Park in Dublin, Ireland. It was found hidden within the walls of a much larger and more recent Georgian building, the Under Secretary's Lodge also known as Ashtown Lodge, that was being used by the Papal Nuncio until 1978. At that time, the Lodge was deemed structurally irreparable due to dry rot. However, as the building was being demolished, Ashtown Castle was discovered. It has now been restored and forms part of the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre. It is thought to originally date from the 1430s, as it is built to dimensions that conform with a government policy of the time that offered £10 to those who built a castle for their own safety.

Visitor Information

Heritage status

Protected Heritage Site

Getting There & Parking

Ashtown Castle is located in County Dublin, roughly 6 km (5 min drive) from Dublin. The nearest public car park is 145 m away (Free). Nearby highlights within a short drive include Chimpanzee (1.5 km away).