Now in order to capture the castle I arrived early before its official opening hours so my review is from my views through the main gates, the front porch and walking around the castle walls. The castle is in fantastic condition and the park surrounding it is beautiful and so well kept, it was a joy walking around the castle walls with the summer flowers in full bloom. The location speaks for itself, its superb and well worth an early morning visit, cheers

Nice Castle with free admission. 30 minutes gives you plenty of time to explore the interiors and grounds. Paid parking on Main Street just out front of the castle or along the East side on North Street. Use Euro coins or use the parking app. Can also park at the Swords Pavilion shopping centre with the first two hours of parking free. About a 12 minute walk up Main Street to the Castle with several pubs, restaurants and various local shops on the way.

The chapel alone is worth a visit, absolutely stunning! The grounds and other rooms are also well kept. Also, everybody we spoke to was very friendly and helpful.

Such a fascinating historical site in the heart of modern Swords! There were even archaeologists working on finds when we were there. Lots of places to explore with a toddler. Pro Tips: - Free admission to wander the grounds and convenient parking within walking distance

We missed it first day beacuse the plane was late...last day I made sure we made it back to Dublin asap...but they were closed for an event. Bad luck at this one but glad to have at least seen outside. We will have to get it in another trip. Its smaller and I tend to love those more! Cahir was a favorite for example.

We found this estate while in the Dublin area. It's quaint with focus on history. And if you're lucky, a celtic Heritage group (people of all ages) stops by once a month to play improvozational celtic music.

Stunning castle, credit to the fingal county for the great restoration work and park! Cool wood sculpture too. Idk why there is an EU flag on top though, I had to angle my pic to avoid it ruining the composition. Nice play park for children past the lawn tennis courts. .love the homosexual community here, thank god AIDS is a thing of the past ❤️

Cool tower 🗼 looks to be under construction on the outside April 2025 🚧

This is a beautiful location but although it is more than worth exploring it has many trees that obstruct good photos of the main towers. I'm not suggestion that all trees be cut down but if the trees obstructing photos were removed then it would be a little gem. The grounds were spotless and tidy, the grass was cut but parking is lacking. All in all it is well worth a visit just don't expect to capture all it has to offer due to the mentioned trees, cheers

Swords Round Tower and St. Columba’s Church offer a profound glimpse into Ireland’s early Christian heritage. The round tower, dating from the 9th century, stands as a testament to the monastic tradition established by St. Columba around 560 AD. Adjacent to it is the 14th-century belfry, the sole remnant of the medieval church that once stood on this site. Historical Significance The round tower is one of the few surviving examples of its kind in Dublin. Standing approximately 26 meters tall, it was originally constructed to house the monastery’s bell and to serve as a refuge during Viking raids. The belfry, built in the 14th century, reflects the architectural style of the period and once formed part of a larger ecclesiastical complex. Architectural Features The round tower is notable for its construction, with walls approximately 1.2 meters thick, designed to withstand external threats. The belfry, though now a solitary structure, provides insight into the medieval church’s design and the community’s devotion during that era. Cultural Legacy Beyond its architectural and historical value, this site holds cultural significance. It is believed that the bodies of King Brian Boru and his son Murrough were brought here after the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, before being transported to Armagh for burial.  This connection to a pivotal moment in Irish history adds depth to the site’s cultural importance. Conclusion Visiting Swords Round Tower and St. Columba’s Church offers more than a look at ancient structures; it provides an opportunity to connect with Ireland’s rich monastic past and its enduring cultural legacy.

A brilliant example of a early monastic round tower. Note that the ground level door and the 4 windows and cross and the whole top was added in a restoration attempt in the 1700s. Nevertheless a brilliant example

This tower is worth visiting. It is was located close to the city centre. Interesting historical landmark’

So cute! Lovely little church. We were supposed to visit first day along with Swords but the plane was late...ended up last day and Swords Castle was closed for an event, so this little gem stole the show! Very cute very peaceful little escape. A charming final place to visit before leaving.

Beautiful medieval towers.

I visited this place during a free guided tour — and it turned out to be so much more than just a walk through history. We were given rare access to the sanctum sanctorum — the usually closed-off sacred part of the church. The silence, the ancient stone walls, the light filtering through stained glass… I genuinely felt the presence of history and deep spirituality. Standing there, I thought about all the generations who had prayed in that space before us. I never imagined such a powerful sense of timelessness could be found in the heart of modern Swords. Highly recommended — especially if you can join a tour. It’s a moment that will stay with me for a long time.

Lovely grounds. The church building itself is closed, but the building and round tower are worth seen at the historic location z

Classic design of Church nd the history

Had reason to visit this beautiful church for two reasons yesterday one sad, the funeral service of a dear friend, the other the celebration of the life of a person who more than made use of the talents God gave her. As we travelled from Ballinasloe we arrived early which gave us time to walk to the church which towers over much of Swords. The grounds are quaint, the stain glass windows are beautiful particularly the one at the rear of the altar. Peaceful. Will return.

If you are a visitor to Ireland and unless you have a car this may not be an easy place to get to but if you do happen to be in Swords you should take time to visit St. Columba’s Church and Churchyard. Unfortunately much of the church ceiling collapsed in April, 2013. Also as there are many instances of dry rot the church was closed for use which means that it is unlikely that you will gain access to the interior of the church. The really exciting thing about the site is that it features a medieval square tower and an intact 10th-century round tower … what more could you ask for? Well there is something else of interest nearby. Not far from the church there is a Holy Well known as ‘St. Colmcille's Well’ which is located beside some apartments on a small road off the main street in Swords. Unfortunately the well does not appear on any maps [Well Road where it is located is shown on Google Maps but it is not named and is shown as a fork off Church Road]. None of the locals that I spoke to were aware of the well and I suspect that it is possible that the owners of the site may prefer that it is forgotten about with the passing of time. It is claimed that St. Colmcille founded the Holy Well on the Well Road in Swords plus many others throughout the island of Ireland. Local legend has it that the saint took a giant leap from the nearby Round Tower and landed at the spot where the holy well is. This of course is folklore and nobody actually believes the tale but that's what the children of Swords were told growing up in the 50's and 60's. However, it is almost certain that the well existed long before Christianity arrived in Ireland.

A great place to sit calm and talk to God. Very nostalgic. Tells the story of over 300 years of long journey. Excellent view both inside and outside.

Historical and interesting part of Swords.