A romantic ruin in Ireland

With St Patrick’s Day (17 March) around the corner, we’re reminded of what we love about Ireland: cosy pubs, great music, the greenest landscapes imaginable and a strong culture of legends. The many enchanting castles and abbey ruins add to its mystical charm. This national monument in the middle of a lake was a seat of the McDermott clan in the 12th century. But the castle you see today is not what it seems – it was built 200 years ago as a ‘folly’, on the ruins of the original, to be used for parties and entertaining. Over the years it fell into disrepair and is now too dangerous to explore. Tourists must be content with viewing this romantic ruin from a rowing boat (you can hire one on the lakeshore). Like any site worth its salt in Ireland, it has a story: Una Bhan, the daughter of a McDermott chief, fell in love with a boy her father didn’t approve of. Her beau would swim across to visit her in secret, but one day he drowned. Una Bahn died of grief, and it’s said the lovers are buried under an oak tree on the island. Find it at Lough Key Forest and Activity Park in County Roscommon, north-west Ireland. loughkey.ie