This season the team at Dunsandle are undertaking necessary repairs to our 15th Century Castle so we will not be open to visitors this Christmas time (we think someone ate too many cookies and damaged the chimney on the way out last year!).

The team at Dunsandle would like to wish you and your family all the very best for Christmas 2012. Santa’s Castle will return in 2013 with a magical event not yet experienced in this land! We look forward to greeting you and your family at the Castle then.

Thank you for your continued support!

The Dunsandle Castle Team

P.S. Mrs. Claus said to say it’s probably best to leave out carrot sticks and some slimline milk this year!

If you have any queries, please phone 091 795276 / 083 3718602 or send us an email.

Dunsandle Castle will only be open for Medieval Tours on the following Sundays: 16^th, 23^rd, and 30^th of September. There will be limited access on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Our car park is closed, but the castle and it's environs are accessible on foot (it is only a short walk). It will be possible to gain access to the castle interior on Sundays only.

If you have any queries, please phone 091 795276 / 083 3718602 or send us an email.

The Dunsandle Castle Team would like to thank everyone who visited the Castle during the Heritage Week. Your participation helped to make this important event a big success. Hundreds of people flocked into the woods to enjoy a medieval tour and picnics at Dunsandle Castle. On Thursday evening a bilingual English-Irish tour took place, which turned out to be highly popular. The bilingual English-Irish tour was provided with the assistance of Gaeilge Locha Riach, who have also sent us some photos that were taken on the day. These photos can be found in the Gallery. We also would like to thank the Heritage Council for encouraging us not to forgetting about our past.

Click here to view all photographs that were taken this week.

If you have any queries, please phone 091 795276 or send us an email.

Dunsandle Castle will be taking part in National Heritage Week 2012. We will be offering free castle tours from Wednesday 22^nduntil Sunday 26^th of August.

If you have any queries, please phone 091 795276 or send us an email.

This year's annual Medieval Day will be held in Dunsandle Castle & Woods on the 10^th of June 2012.

During this exceptional day, which is for all the family, you will experience medieval fighting, Your Man's Puppets, Galway Early Music, castle tours, basket weaving, refreshments, woodland walks, fun, games, and many more surprises that date back to the Middle Ages!

Only €10 per car or €5 per person.

If you have any queries, please phone 091 795276 or send us an email.

The Dunsandle Castle website was unfortunately taken offline on Tuesday 21^st of February. This was as a result of spam email messages being sent through our server. The downtime allowed us to secure the server to ensure the safety of visitors to our website.

We are happy to confirm that the website is back online and would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us on 091 795276.

The excitement is growing in Dunsandle Castle as the elves work hard to prepare for the arrival of Santa Claus on the 3^rd of December 2011. This magical experience is a pre-booked event and places are filling up.

For more information about reserving your place, visit santascastle.ie.

Join in the fun and become part of the medieval experience at Dunsandle Castle & Woods. When you visit the castle, why not have your photograph taken in the stocks. You then have the choice to appear in the Rogues Gallery on our website which is the Dunsandle Castle hall of fame.

For more information about this souvenir opportunity, do not hesitate to speak to a member of the team at the Castle.

The McNamara family of Ganty visited Dunsandle Castle in strength on Thursday 4th of August. They were entertained in true medieval fashion by Barry, who like a shanachie (seanchaÍ,seanchaidhe) of times past, delighted young and old with stories of both the castle and the locality.

Dunsandle Castle and staff were pleased to facilitate this event.

Your Man's Puppets is coming to Dunsandle Castle on Father's Day 2011. On June 19th, Dunsandle Castle will play host to Your Man's Puppets amongst other fascinating attractions.

For more information on Your Man's Puppets - visit yourmanspuppets.com

Music and tales ran once more through the Great Hall of Dunsandle Castle on Sunday May 22^nd. Clive Fairweather poured life and animation into his audience of both young and old.

Anne Marie Summer and Stephen Tyler of Misericordia woke the walls of this ancient castle with tunes from an array of early instruments bringing just a glimpse of times gone by to all those present. In short, a beautifully executed session.

The Dunsandle Castle open day will be held on Father's Day, 19^th of June 2011. Events on the day will include sword fighting, medieval demonstrations and more. Guided tours of the castle will be run throughout the day. Bring a picnic for a fun-filled family day out.

We look forward to seeing you.

The Secret of the Ferns

Misercordia

Stephen Tyler (hurdy gurdy, cittern), Anne Marie Summers (pipes, gothic harp, voice), Clive Fairweather (storyteller)

In our final event Misercordia with Clive Fairweather re-create a medieval session of music, song and storytelling in the atmospheric 15th century Dunsandle Castle, Craughwell, Co Galway. Clive tells three stories: The Secret of the Ferns - French folk tale collected by Henry Pouratt in Le Tresor Des Contes, The Chicken's Nightmare - Geoffrey Chancer, The Canterbury Tales c.1380 and The Priest's Familiar - Jean Froissart's Chronicles.

The event includes a Medieval Food tasting and tour of Dunsandle Castle.

Date: May 22^nd 2011

Time: 3pm

Price: €15/€12

There may be two shows depending on demand. More info on this later.

Dunsandle Castle was mentioned in one of the letters to the editor in the Galway Advertiser newspaper which was dated the 19th of August 2010.

Click to download article

Have you found it difficult to get a good look at the oubliette? Are you interested in seeing more of the oubliette?

Great News! Cora of the Dunsandle Castle team enters the Oubliette for a closer look. Feel free to browse other photographs in the About section of the website.

Dunsandle Castle contains a beautiful collection of handwoven baskets which are available to buy. These baskets have been carefully handcrafted by Vivienne Mayne of Jara Baskets.

Why not talk to a member of the castle team during your visit to the castle.

Dunsandle Castle is available to facilitate your event:

• Weddings with marquee
• Dinners / Music / Catering / Great Hall
• Film Sets
• Private Functions

Santa's Castle will be taking bookings for a magical family experience this Christmas from September

For more information please email info@dunsandlecastle.com

Coming to a town near you soon...

Dunsandle Castle will be open for the months of July, August, and September from Wednesday through to Sunday between the times of 11am and 5pm

The Dunsandle Castle open day was held between 11am and 6pm on Sunday 20th of June 2010 (Father's Day). The day was a great success. The weather was fantastic as crowds of people flocked to the 15th Century Castle in the intimate surroundings of Dunsandle Woods.

The open day was full of activity for the whole family to enjoy including Sword Fighting and Blacksmith demonstrations by Eireann Edge from Donegal, Basket Weaving, and Archery demonstrations were a big hit. The Dunsandle Castle team ran tours every half hour throughout the day.

Please see the selection of photos in the Gallery that were taken on the day.

Malcolm Goodbody was interviewed in the grounds of Dunsandle Castle by Emily Johnson for an American TV show called Emily's Garden.