Desmond Castle

Desmond Castle hosts the International Museum of Wine Exhibition, that documents the unique history of Ireland's wine links with Europe and the wider world

Desmond Castle was built by the Earl of Desmond c. 1500 as a Customs House and was used for this purpose until 1641 when it was converted into a naval prison, following the construction of a new Customs House. The prisoners kept in the Castle were mainly French and Spanish and it is known locally as the French Prison.

The castle fell into decay but was restored by the government in the 1990s.  It is a fine example of an urban tower house with a three storey keep with storehouses to the rear.

Today Desmond Castle hosts the International Museum of Wine Exhibition, that documents the unique history of Ireland's wine links with Europe and the wider world.

Open daily 5th April-19th September 10am-6pm. Last admission 1 hour before closing

Adults €3; Child/Student €1; OAP/Group €2; Family €8.

View Similar Tourist Attractions

• Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge
• Trim Castle
• National Photographic Archive
• St Marys Abbey
• Caherconnell Fort
• Thomond Park Stadium
• Ballyhack Castle
• Famine Warhouse
• Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre
• Westport House, Gardens & Pirate Adventure Park
• Fort Lucan
• Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens
• Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium
• Clare Museum
• Charles Fort
• Donegal Castle
• Kilkenny Castle
• Wicklow Mountains National Park
• Desmond Hall
• The Ark
• Somme Heritage Centre
• Bushmills Distillery
• Dingle Oceanworld
• Little Museum of Dublin
• Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre
• The Hunt Museum
• Desmond Castle
• Lough Key Forest & Activity Park
• Boyle Abbey
• Dunmore Cave
• Kilmainham Gaol
• St Marys Church
• Croke Park & GAA Museum
• Dublin Castle
• Castletown House
• Dwyer McAllister Cottage
• Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre
• Sentry Hill & Visitor Centre
• Christ Church Cathedral
• Natural History Museum
• National Wax Museum Plus
• Phoenix Park
• Kerry County Museum
• Dublinia
• Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery
• Malahide Castle
• National Library of Ireland
• Titanic Belfast
• National Concert Hall
• Farmleigh House & Estate
• Derrynane House
• Cruachan Ai Heritage Centre
• Doneraile Wildlife Park
• Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
• Florence Court
• Hill of Tara
• Blarney Castle
• Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship Famine Museum
• Scattery Island Centre
• Ulster Folk & Transport Museum
• Connemara National Park
• National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History
• Dromore Wood
• St Stephens Green
• Casino Marino
• Skerries Mills
• John F Kennedy Arboretum
• Galway Atlantaquaria
• Roscrea Castle & Heritage Centre
• Battle of the Boyne
• Leopardstown Racecourse
• Cobh Heritage Centre
• Barryscourt Castle
• Mid Antrim Museum at The Braid
• Foynes Flying Boat Museum
• Dungarvan Castle
• Garylough Mill
• National Gallery of Ireland
• Newmills Corn & Flax Mills
• Wexford Wildfowl Reserve
• Viking Splash Tours
• Castle Ward House & Demesne
• Ferns Castle
• Guinness Storehouse
• Xtreme.ie - Adventure Centre
• Funtasia Waterpark
• The Blascaoid Centre - Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhoir
• The Old Jameson Distillery
• Saint Patricks Cathedral
• Doolin Cave & Visitor Centre
• Patrick Pearses Cottage
• Giants Causeway
• Clonmacnoise
• Armagh County Museum
• The Butlers Chocolate Experience
• King Johns Castle
• Mizen Head Signal Station
• Museum at the Mill
• Number Twenty Nine - Georgian House Museum
• Burren National Park
• Queens University
• Carrickfergus Museum
• Glendalough
• National Transport Museum
• Aillwee Cave
• Kilbeggan Distillery Experience
• National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
• Dun Aonghasa
• National Aquatic Centre - AquaZone
• Coole Park
• Jerpoint Abbey
• Russborough House
• Jameson Experience Midleton
• VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art & The George Bernard Shaw Theatre
• Arigna Mining Experience
• Dublin City Hall - Story of the Capital
• Larne Museum & Arts Centre
• Skellig Experience Visitor Centre
• Government Buildings
• Donegal County Museum
• Phoenix Park Visitor Centre - Ashtown Castle
• Castlecomer Discovery Park
• Parkes Castle
• Cliffs of Moher - Visitor Experience
• Funtasia Bettystown
• Swiss Cottage
• Imaginosity - Dublins Children Museum
• Dunbrody Famine Ship
• Ormond Castle
• Rock of Cashel
• Tayto Park
• Lusk Heritage Centre
• Tintern Abbey
• Avondale House & Forest Park
• Ceide Fields
• Ros Tapestry Exhibition Centre
• Waterford & Suir Valley Heritage Railway
• Aughnanure Castle
• Exploris Aquarium & Seal Sanctuary
• Chester Beatty Library
• Eagles Flying
• Waterways Ireland Visitor Centre
• Rathfarnham Castle
• Glenveagh National Park
• The Science Gallery
• The Burren Centre - Gateway to the Burren
• Pearse Museum & St. Endas Park
• Marble Arch Caves & Global Geopark
• King House
• Trinity College Dublin & Book of Kells
• Tower Museum
• Ennis Friary
• Belfast Zoo
• National Leprechaun Museum
• Adare Castle
• Athenry Castle
• Ardfert Cathedral
• Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park
• Gallarus Oratory & Gallarus Castle
• Reginalds Tower
• Ulster American Folk Park
• Muckross House & Gardens & Traditional Farm
• National Museum of Ireland - Country Life
• National Sea Life Centre
• Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre
• The Main Guard
• Enniskillen Castle Museum
• Emo Court
• Aviva Stadium
• Rothe House & Garden
• Old Mellifont Abbey
• Sligo Abbey
• Skellig Michael
• House of Waterford Crystal
• Newgrange & Knowth - Bru na Boinne Visitor Centre
• Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) - Royal Hospital Kilmainham
• Lahinch Seaworld & Leisure Centre
• Ulster Museum
• Listowel Castle
• Craggaunowen - The Living Past
• Ross Castle
• Hook Lighthouse & Heritage Centre
• Dublin Zoo
• Crag Cave
• Hugh Lane Gallery
• Glasnevin Museum
• Glebe House & Gallery - The Derek Hill Collection
• Galway City Museum
• Portumna Castle & Gardens
• Killarney National Park
• Navan Centre & Fort
• Adare Heritage Centre
• Dan OHaras Heritage & History Centre
• Armagh Planetarium
• Skibbereen Heritage Centre
• Iveagh Gardens
• Aras an Uachtarain
• Maynooth Castle
• Edmund Rice Heritage Centre
• Cahir Castle

Local Recommendations

Hospitality

• Old Presbytery, The
  (0.1km)SW
• Supper Club
  (0.1km)SW
• Fishy Fishy
  (0.1km)SW
• Friar's Lodge
  (0.1km)SW
• Dalton's
  (0.2km)SE
• Blue Haven Hotel, The
  (0.2km)SE
• Lemon Leaf Café
  (0.2km)SE
• Jim Edwards
  (0.2km)SE
• Finn's Table
  (0.2km)SE
• Old Bank House, The
  (0.2km)SE
• Bastion
  (0.3km)SE
• Perryville House
  (0.3km)SE
• Max's Wine Bar
  (0.3km)SE
• Bruno's
  (0.4km)SE
• Twisted
  (0.4km)SE
• Blindgate House
  (0.4km)SW
• Actons Hotel
  (0.5km)SE
• Black Pig Winebar & Café, The
  (0.5km)SE
• Man Friday
  (0.6km)SE
• Spaniard Inn,The
  (0.6km)SE

Self Catering

• Farran House
  (23.2km)NW
• Galley Head Lightkeepers Cottages
  (35.0km)SW
• Castlemartyr Resort - Lodges & Mews
  (40.1km)NE
• Salterbridge Gatelodge
  (67.9km)NE

Farmers Markets

• Kinsale - County Cork - Tuesdays
  (0.2km)SE
• Bandon - County Cork - Saturdays
  (15.3km)NW
• Bishopstown - Co Cork - Thursdays
  (18.7km)NW
• Crosshaven - County Cork - Saturdays
  (18.9km)NE
• Douglas - Co Cork - Saturdays
  (20.1km)NE
• Ballincollig - County Cork - Wednesdays
  (20.6km)NW
• Mahon Point - County Cork - Thursdays
  (21.3km)NE
• English - Cork - Daily
  (21.5km)NE
• Cornmarket Street - Cork City - Saturday Mornings
  (21.7km)NE
• Hosfords - Bandon Co Cork - 1st Sunday Each Month
  (22.3km)NW
• Cobh - County Cork - Fridays
  (22.8km)NE
• Blackpool - Co Cork - Fridays
  (23.2km)NE
• Blarney - Co Cork - Thursdays
  (25.4km)NW
• Clonakilty - County Cork - Thursdays
  (26.9km)SW
• Clonakilty - Co Cork - Fridays
  (26.9km)SW
• Cloyne Country & - Co Cork - Fridays
  (32.6km)NE
• Midleton - County Cork - Saturdays
  (33.4km)NE
• Macroom - County Cork - Tuesdays
  (37.1km)NW
• Greenbarn - Co Cork - Fridays
  (48.1km)NE
• Mallow - Co Cork - Fridays
  (48.5km)NW
• Killavullen - Co Cork - Every Two weeks
  (49.6km)NE
• Fermoy - County Cork - Sundays
  (52.0km)NE
• Lismore - County Waterford - Sundays
  (62.8km)NE

Tourist Attractions

• Desmond Castle
  (0.0km)NE
• Charles Fort
  (2.1km)NE
• Cobh Heritage Centre
  (22.1km)NE
• Blarney Castle
  (25.0km)NE
• Barryscourt Castle
  (28.5km)NE
• Jameson Experience Midleton
  (33.9km)NE

Golf Courses

• Old Head of Kinsale Golf Club
  (9.8km) SW
• Monkstown Golf Club
  (20.2km) NE
• Cork Golf Club
  (24.2km) NE
• Blarney Golf Resort
  (26.2km) NW
• Fota Island Golf Club
  (26.8km) NE

Gardens

• Lisselan Gardens
  (23.7km)SW
• Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens
  (24.9km)NE
• Lakemount Garden.
  (25.9km)NE
• Cedar Lodge
  (31.5km)NE
• Ballymaloe Cookery School Gardens
  (38.4km)NE
• Aultaghreagh Cottage Garden
  (39.7km)NW
• Ballyvolane House
  (45.2km)NE
• Lismore Castle Gardens
  (62.7km)NE
• Cappoquin House Garden
  (67.5km)NE

Nearby Towns/Areas

• Kinsale
  (0.2km) SE
• Oysterhaven
  (2.7km) NE
• Ballinspittle
  (6.8km) SW
• Innishannon
  (10.3km) NW
• Kilbrittain
  (13.0km) SW
• Ballygarvan
  (13.6km) NE
• Carrigaline
  (15.1km) NE
• Courtmacsherry
  (15.6km) SW
• Timoleague
  (18.1km) SW
• Bandon
  (18.4km) SW