Killyleagh Castle | |
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County Down, Northern Ireland in United Kingdom | |
Coordinates | 54°24′9″N 5°39′15″W / 54.40250°N 5.65417°W |
Type | Castle |
Site information | |
Owner | Private |
Open to the public | Limited access |
Site history | |
In use | Late 12th century – present |
Events | English Civil War |
Killyleagh Castle is a castle in the village of Killyleagh, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is believed to be one of the oldest inhabited castles in the country, with parts dating back to 1180. It follows the architectural style of a Loire Valley château, being redesigned by the architect Sir Charles Lanyon in the mid-19th century. It has been owned by the Hamilton family since the early 17th century.
It is currently the home of Gawn Rowan Hamilton and his young family. The castle hosts occasional concerts; performers have included Van Morrison, Glen Hansard and Bap Kennedy. The gate lodges provide self-catering holiday accommodation. From 2012 to 2014, the castle was used to film CBBC show Dani's Castle.