Darver Castle facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Darver Castle is an old, strong building in Readypenny, near Dundalk, in County Louth, Republic of Ireland. It's a mix of a tall tower and a manor house, and it has been around since the 1100s! The name "Darver" comes from an old Irish word, "Dairbhe," which means "Oakwood."

What is the History of Darver Castle?

How Darver Castle Began

After the Normans came to Ireland again in 1171, King Henry II of England gave 500 acres of land to a man named Patrick Babe. Mr. Babe built a strong wooden tower on a high spot on this land. This was the very first building at Darver.

Later, around the year 1432, a stone tower was added. This is the stone tower you can still see today. Even though the castle was built to be ready for attacks, there are no records that it was ever actually attacked!

Who Lived at Darver Castle?

The Babe family owned Darver Castle for a very long time. But in 1740, they sold it to Randal Booth. The Booth family lived at Darver Castle until 1980.

Then, in 1997, the Carville family bought the castle. They worked hard to fix it up and make it look new again. Today, Darver Castle is a fancy hotel, a popular place for weddings, and it even has a restaurant!

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Darver Castle Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.