Baggotrath Castle

53°20′01″N 6°14′35″W / 53.333513°N 6.243054°W / 53.333513; -6.243054

"Beggatroath Castle" on Herman Moll's map of Dublin c. 1714

Baggotrath Castle, or Baggotsrath Castle, was a castle situated at present-day Baggot Street in Dublin city centre. It was built in the late thirteenth century by the Bagod (later called Baggot) family, for whom it was named. For much of its history, it was owned by the Fitzwilliam family.

During the English Civil War, possession of the castle, which was described as "the strongest fortress near Dublin", was a matter of great importance to both sides in the conflict, and it was largely destroyed during the siege of Dublin in 1649, on the eve of the Battle of Rathmines. The ruins of the castle remained on the site until the early nineteenth century when Dublin Corporation demolished what was left of it.[1] No trace of it survives today, but it probably stood at present-day 44-46 Upper Baggot Street, facing Waterloo Road.[2]

The ruins of Baggotsrath Castle in a 1791 sketch by Francis Grose
  1. ^ Smith, J. Huband "On the Castle and Manor of Baggotrath" (1856) Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy (1836-1869) Vol.6 p.310
  2. ^ Ball, F. Elrington History of Dublin 6 Volumes Alexander Thom and Co. Dublin 1902-1920 Vol.2 pp.42-8