Site of Camp Castle, Camp, Co. Kerry
On the windswept lands overlooking Tralee Bay in County Kerry, a low mound and scattered fragments of mortared masonry mark the site where Camp Castle once stood.
Site of Camp Castle, Camp, Co. Kerry
The fortress, which may have been constructed by a branch of the FitzGerald family, commanded an impressive position above the northern coastline; its builders clearly chose this elevated spot for both its defensive advantages and sweeping views across the bay.
Today, visitors to the site will find little more than grass-covered wall foundations that likely belonged to ancillary buildings surrounding the main castle structure. The ruins have remained largely unchanged since the 19th century, when antiquarians first documented them in the Ordnance Survey Name Books for Kilgobban parish. What remains offers a tantalising glimpse into medieval Kerry’s turbulent past, when powerful Norman families like the FitzGeralds established strongholds throughout the region.
Archaeological surveys conducted in 1986 as part of the Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey have helped piece together the castle’s story, though much about its history remains shrouded in mystery. The site serves as a poignant reminder of how even the mightiest fortifications eventually succumb to time, leaving only subtle traces in the landscape for those who know where to look.