The Rock Of Dunamase

Time was when the road journey from Cork to Dublin was an ordeal, when it could take up to five hours to complete due to the traffic snarls in places like Fermoy, Cashel, Abbeyleix, Monasterevin and Kildare. Those days are gone forever as there is now a motorway all the way making the journey a doddle with the travelling time between the cities cut to two and half hours.  

This makes detours to places of photographic interest in the general vicinity of the motorway a very viable proposition for the traveller with some time to spare. One such location is the Rock of Dunamase. Exit the motorway at Portlaoise and take the N80 Portlaoise to Carlow road. The Rock is about 4 miles from Portlaoise about midway between the town and Stradbally.

A brief history of the place: the castle was built on the site in the second half of the 12th Century by one Meyler FitzHenry or possibly Strongbow. It was abandoned and went into ruins in the 14th Century. During the Cromwellian wars of the 17th Century the remnants were blown up so as to ensure the place would no longer be occupied.

The Rock affords some fine views over the surrounding countryside. It is public property and is under the control of the Office of Public Works. Access is free.