Castle Roche

Castle Roche, not Roche Castle is located near Dundalk in County Louth just south of the Cooley Peninsula and the Northern Ireland border. Roche Castle is probably not the most well know castle in Ireland, but it is really neat. I say this because when we were at Castle Roche, a farmer had his sheep penned up inside the castle and there was no one around. The Caslte sits atop a Rock hill in the middle of some farm land.

Castle Roche or as it is known in the old records "Castlellum de Rupe" or de la Roche -The Castle of the rocks, is in great condition. It was formerly a frontier castle of the English pale, Nicholas de Verdon (who died in 1316) and was in charge during the Bruce Invasion (Edward Bruce, brother of Robert Bruce).The Manor of Roche evidently suffered badly during this time for in 1316-17 it was reported that no profit could be received from the land and by 1332 the castle itself was lying burnt at the hand of the Irish.

Castle Roche as
we entered the field

Castle Roche from the
bottom of the hill