Smarmore Castle Explained

Smarmore Castle is an Irish Medieval castle located south of Ardee in County Louth.

History

Smarmore Castle was first officially mentioned^[1] in 1320 as the seat of the Taaffe family.^[2]

The Taaffe family, originating from Britain, lived in Smarmore Castle up to the 1980s. While the tower house was built in around 1320, other buildings of the castles have been established in 1730 to 1750. After the Taaffe family sold the castle it was converted into a guest house. In 2015, Castle Craig, a British Addiction Treatment Center, acquired Smarmore Castle. The Smarmore Castle Private Clinic, a drug and alcohol treatment centre, opened in 2016.^[3]

Origin of Name

The name Smarmore is seen to have its origin in an Irish language legend known as Táin Bó Cúailnge (The Cattle Raid of Cooley).

References

53.8144°N -6.5656°W

Notes and References

1. Taaffe. Rudolph. 1958. Taaffe of County Louth. Journal of the County Louth Archaeological Society. 14. 2. 55–67. 10.2307/27728944. 27728944.
2. Web site: Taaffe's Smarmore items up for auction. Barry Landy. 2015-10-16. thisisardee.ie. 2018-08-31.
3. Web site: Smarmore Castle Private Clinic holds official opening. Kelvin Farrell. 2016-07-06. thisisardee.ie. 2018-08-31.