Parke's Castle

About the museum

Parke's Castle stands on the northern shore of Lough Gill in County Leitrim, on a site that was first occupied by a tower house of the O'Rourke lords of West Breifne. Sir Brian O'Rourke, who held the tower house, resisted English rule, fled Ireland, was handed over to the Crown and was hanged at Tyburn in London in 1591. His lands later passed to the English planter Robert Parke.

Robert Parke built the present fortified house and bawn in the early seventeenth century, reusing parts of the earlier tower house. Sources differ on the exact date, giving about 1609 or about 1634. In 1677 two of the Parke children drowned in the lake, and the castle afterwards fell into disrepair. It was restored in the late twentieth century using traditional Irish oak and craftsmanship.

The castle is now managed by the Office of Public Works as part of Heritage Ireland. Visitors see an exhibition and join a guided tour of the castle, courtyard and bawn, and in summer a boat tour from Sligo across Lough Gill ends with a guided tour of the castle.

Highlights

• Restored plantation castle and bawn of the early 17th century
• Setting on the shore of Lough Gill
• Exhibition and guided tours
• Boat tour from Sligo on summer Wednesdays

Permanent exhibition

• Parke's Castle exhibition and tour – An exhibition and tour about the O’Rourke tower house and the plantation castle built by Robert Parke, with views of the restored courtyard and bawn.

Operated by

Office of Public Works (Heritage Ireland)

Admission & discounts

Prices apply to the guided or self-guided tour. The OPW Heritage Card gives free entry to OPW sites.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Heritage Ireland lists uneven walkways at the site and allows assistance dogs only. A wheelchair accessible toilet is available.

Kids & families

• Baby changing facilities

Baby changing is available. The ground is uneven.

Getting there & parking

The castle is on the Sligo to Dromahair road (R286), 11 km from Sligo town and 7 km from Dromahair.

Amenities & dining

Toilets, baby changing and bicycle parking are listed by Heritage Ireland, and card payments are accepted.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit