Irish tower houses were small castles built between 1250-1550 as defensive structures during times of conflict. Most Irish landholding families built a tower house, which served as both a fortified home and shelter for people and livestock. Ferriter's Castle in County Kerry is one example of an surviving Irish tower house, dating back to 1350-1400, that was originally built by the Ferriter family as a stronghold but now stands in ruins.

1. Irish Tower Houses, and Ferriters Castle (Castle Sybil)

4. Attack on a Tower House, c1400

5. Typical W.Ireland Tower Houses

6. More W.Ireland Tower Houses

7. Yet More! Note the Similarities

9. Gallerus and Rahinane Two Castles closest to Ferriter’s Castle, (Castle Sybil) were both FitzGerald strongholds. Gallerus was built by a lesser son of one of the Knights of Kerry, and stands about 2 linear miles East of Dun Point. Rahinane was built by an early Knight of Kerry and is also perhaps 2 miles from Dun Point, in a straight line. This place was the principal home of the knight of Kerry for 300 years.

11. Caislain Fheiritearaigh c1820

14. Ferriter’s Castle 2009

15. More of Ferriter’s in 2009

16. A non-Historical Reconstruction What Is, c2009 Fantasy, c2009

17. Caslain Feiritear in 1953 These photos were taken of a mass said at the Castle as part of the 300 th Anniversary Commemoration of Piaras Feiritear’s death. (Courtesy Siobhan (Ferriter) Fahy, Ballyferriter)

19. Caslain Fheiritearaigh