Fethard Castle, Norman Way

Fethard Castle, Norman Way

The stone castle here at Fethard was built in several phases during the 14th and 15th centuries. The earliest part of the  castle is a gatehouse located on the eastern side of the building. The castle was probably built by the Bishop of Ferns as a summer residence and the crenellated circular tower was topped by a bellcote. In the later medieval period several bishops resided at Fethard to avoid the attacks of the native Irish in north Wexford.

In the 17th century Fethard Castle became the property of the Loftus family whose grand residence at Loftus Hall is another site along the Norman Way.