Ringmackilroy hidden castle, "the hidden castle", right under our noses in Warrenpoint. Built by the Hall family. Very little people know about this place. Definitely a hard place to find as its totally overgrown now, shame as it is a nice spot and would have been amazing in its day, now nature will take its course, the ivy will rip it apart in no time.
The locals called it Magennis's castle which would get confusion as Dundrum castle is very well know as Maginess's castle.
Used by the troops during ww2 for training exercises.
Wikipedia says a precise definition of the word folly is not possible, but there is a meaning for the word.
The name comes from an old French word of "folie" meaning madness, in modern French it also means delight or delightful, so roughly I think it translates into favourite dwelling or foolish dwelling maybe in old french from the time they were built.
A Follie is basically a costly ornamental building with no practical purpose, normally a round tower or mock Gothic ruin built in a large garden or park like a castle keep, just because they could and simply wanted 1 and to show generosity to tenants mainly to create employment for those not so well off or as part payment for land rental.
This place is much more than a folly, it was used as a hunting lodge but this was built to be lived in, a small structure in comparison to most castles but built with grand design on solid rock that has but broken and dug away to make the lower rooms at the back so was a grand task. It certainly had a function with there being fireplaces in rooms and cold stores etc and shows signs of restructure and redesign over the years so I would bet it was lived in.
Standing on the rear terrace I could only imagine the stunning scenery it would have had over Carlingford lough, now nothing to see now as the view is blocked totally by the trees that now surround it, out of sight, out of mind. I talked to a few people about this, some that live 1-2 mile away and knew nothing about it, sure sign is been forgotten.
The main load bearing wall in the lower part is badly buckled, damaged with most of it missing and will collapse in the next couple of years and will most certainly be the end of the place sadly. Another great piece of our history will crumple and fall.
If anyone knows anything about the history please let me know. Seems the facts have already been forgotten so this is why I love to find these places, capturing the past and documenting it for the future.
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