Doon Castle facts for kids

Doon Castle, also known as Caisleán an Dúin (which means Fort Castle in Irish), is a very old site in County Mayo, Ireland. Not much of the original castle is left today. It sits on a hill in a small area called a townland, also named Dooncastle. This spot is about four miles from the town of Westport.

Doon Castle: A Glimpse into the Past

Doon Castle was built on the site of an even older Irish fort called Dún Mughdhord. In 1133, two important leaders, Cormac MacCarthy and Conor O'Brien, led groups into the area known as Connaught. They took many valuable things and destroyed several places, including the old Dún Mughdhord fort and another place called Dunmore. Later, a Norman castle was built on this same spot.

What Happened to the Castle?

Today, the castle has almost completely disappeared. Local stories say that the stones from Doon Castle were used to help build Westport House, a large estate nearby, by Lord Sligo. The castle was located on a hill about 150 feet high. From this high point, people could see far across the land to the east and southeast. This view was very important for watching out for enemies. The top of the hill where the castle stood is shaped like an oval, about 40 to 60 yards long and 20 yards wide. The castle itself was rectangular, measuring about 40 feet by 27 feet.

Who Lived at Doon Castle?

According to historical records by a person named Knox, the MacPhilbin family owned several castles in the area. They held Doon Castle, along with Ayle and Aghle castles in the Barony of Burrishoole. They also had Bellabourke and New Castle near Castlebar in the Barony of Carra. These castles were important strongholds for the MacPhilbin family in medieval times.