Dunguaire Castle

The Emerald Isle is full of myths, legends and stories. The origins of some stories are lost in the mists of time but some have origins made of stone and walls that still stand.

As you travel through The Burren in Co Clare on your way to Galway you'll get to see places where myths and legends were born and one of those places is Dunguaire castle.

In Kinvara, Co Galway, just at the easternmost point of Galway Bay, stands the castle named after the ancient King Guaire of Connaught.

The castle that stands majestically on the shores of the bay today was built in the 16th century but if you look carefully as you approach, you can see the remnants of a much much older building on a small piece of land at the shore and right beside the castle. This was old King Guaire's fortress and you can still see an arched doorway belonging to the ancient castle.

Indeed the word "Dun" is an old Irish Celtic word for Fort, Fortress or Stronghold, so Dunguaire actually means "Guaire's Fortress".

Guaire was King of Connaught (the western province of Ireland) in the 7th century and that's the time the old fortress dates from. It was a dangerous and violent time in Ireland, when kings and warlords fought with rival tribes on battlefields with swords and spears.

In the middle of this dark and savage time the wise King Guaire managed to bring peace to his kingdom of Connaught by being as generous to his people as he was savage to his enemies. He gave riches to the new church and its holy men, he presented his cousin, St Colman with the money to build the nearby monastery of Kilmacduagh. 

But one of the things that secured his place in the hearts of his people was his generosity to them and in particular to the poorest of his people.

The stories of King Guaire tells us that he hated to see people suffer from poverty so always gave generously to those that needed it the most. The poorest people of his kingdom constantly came to his castle and always left richer than they had arrived, gold coins in hand.

It's said that when the old King Guaire died, a beggar who had walked for miles to visit him, knelt down by his grave and asked "Good King, who can help me now?". With that, a ghostly hand rose from the grave and placed in the beggar's hand exactly what he was looking for; gold.

Of course the old legends are still remembered along with the old King and it is said that even today King Guaire will grant you your wishes, but only if you believe.

As you stand at the entrance to the new castle and look towards the old one, make a wish to King Guaire and toss a coin into the bay. He will grant you your wish before the day is over. It could be wealth, love, happiness, a new job. Whatever it is, don't worry, the King will give you what you ask.

Of course, if it's fun you ask for, you'll be guaranteed that on your tour with Linguatours Ireland.

Sláinte.