Welcome
“The Castle of the Island Society” was established in 2017 by Robert McGuire (BA, MA Archaeology UCC) with the goal to preserve and promote, the history and built heritage of Castleisland castle in County Kerry. We are a voluntary, non-profit organisation.
Castleisland Castle is a monument of local and regional significance, therefore we aspire to work on a voluntary basis and in good faith, to preserve the history and built heritage of our local castle for future generations. We also aspire to respect the memory of our medieval ancestors.
–Update Winter 2023–
Key milestones in the preservation and promotion of our Castle in recent years
Since the establishment of ‘The Castle of the Island Society’, the follow goals have been achieved.
–January 2017– ‘The Castle of the Island Society’ is founded by Robert McGuire.
–Summer 2017– Filming of ‘The Castle of the Island’ documentary commences. Researched, written, and presented by Robert McGuire.
–February 2018 -In February of this year, Castleisland Castle features in an episode of Nationwide on RTE.
–April 2018– A public screening of the first draft of the documentary is held in the local River Island Hotel, as part of ‘The Castle of the Island Festival’ in April of this year.
–2019– Research of the layout of the physical castle continues, this includes the drawing of floor plans and elevations of the buildings that formed the late-16th century castle by Robert McGuire.
–2020– A digital reconstruction of the late-16th century castle is created, based on the floor plans and elevations composed by Robert McGuire.
–Summer 2021-Thanks to grant aid from the Community Monuments Fund, a comprehensive conservation management report is compiled on Castleisland Castle. This outstanding report was undertaken by Clarkebond, on behalf of ‘The Castle of the Island Society’.
–Summer 2021-A brochure entitled ‘Castleisland Castle-A Journey Through Time’ is published by ‘The Castle of the Island Society’, researched and written by Robert McGuire.
–Winter 2022-Thanks to another phase of funding from the Community Monuments Fund, the first phase of conservation works commence on the ‘Turret’ (the tallest surviving tower) at Castleisland.
–Winter 2023-This year (once again) thanks to the Community Monuments Fund, a second phase of conservation works take place, this time on the ruins of the ‘Bawn wall tower’ (located alongside the Killarney Road) at Castleisland.
–2024 -The release of the final cut of ‘The Castle of the Island’ documentary.
-This edition will include a new digital reconstruction of the late-16th century castle, as well as footage of the recently restored towers at Castleisland.
-Plans are in store to compose a wall mural of the once powerful late-16th century Desmond Castle.
–2024-2025 -We hope that other phases of conservation works will take place on the castle ruins, thus ensuring the preservation of our local castle for future generations.
–2026– ‘The Castle of the Island Society’ will celebrate the 800-year anniversary of the construction of the first castle at Castleisland. This special event entitled ‘Castleisland Castle: 1226 to 2026’ will be a momentous event and milestone in our local history.
Note: In respect of the conservation works, I wish to express sincere thanks to the local landowners, the county archaeologist at Kerry County Council, as well as the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, who are responsible for the Community Monuments Fund.
‘Fortune favours the bold’.
Image: The main turret surrounded by scaffold, November 2022 (Photo: Robert McGuire)
Documentary-Release 2024
See the Trailer below.
Nationwide of RTÉ
Legacy of the castle
In an ever-changing world, it is reassuring to see that fragments of our Desmond castle still stand guard over the valley of the Maine, as they have done so for nearly 800 years. It is important to acknowledge that were it not for the construction of the ‘Island Castle’ here in 1226, the modern town of Castleisland may never have come to exist. I feel privileged to have played a role in helping to revive and preserve its history and legacy in recent years….. ‘Shanid abú’
From the Chairperson and Founder of ‘The Castle of the Island Society’:
Robert McGuire