- One of the finest "plantation castles" in (albeit ruined) existence.
- Twin drum towers topped with triangular gables provide an unusual silhouette.
- Layout of castle is still plainly visible.
- Off the beaten track - might prove out of the way for those with only a passing interest in castles.
- Plantation castle built in the 17th century by Malcolm Hamilton to a Scottish design.
- Interior is fragmentary, but partitions and upper storeys can still be discerned.
- Some staircases remain, but these are not really safe to climb very high.
The road to Monea Castle is fairly well signposted from the A46, but it is a seemingly long and certainly winding road into the hills south of Lower Lough Erne. Not bad if you have to fight off pesky neighbors who forcibly object to you living here - as was the case in old times. Plantation castles were built by settlers imported from England or Scotland, taking possession of lands hitherto owned by the Irish. Which made house-warming parties a risky business.
But the owners of Monea Castle, built at an old settlement site (a crannog is still discernible), pulled out all the stops. They certainly built to impress - the twin barrel towers with the unusual triangular gables still manage to awe the visitor. The "Scottish" style combined practical, defensive purposes with a declaration of wealth and power.
Unfortunately this did not work out quite as planned - during the Confederate War the castle was badly damaged and finally abandoned in the 18th century.
What remains today is an almost complete hulk that vividly represents past glories. Children love to play hide and seek here, adults refer to basically the same activity as "exploring". Take some time to do this ...
