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

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

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