Ferns Castle was indeed a fine and formidable castle in its day as Ferns was the capitol of Leinster, this province. The castle finally fell into ruin during the Cromwellian war that swept through Ireland beginning in 1649. Upon entering the site you will first notice the moat at the base of the castle. Look up to the top of the round tower on your left and you will see a face at the top. This is one of the waterspouts where water would drain out through its mouth. At the base of the inside of this tower is the castles water well. You can see it when you walk through the main entrance and turn left. It's gated for safety reasons but you can see that it still holds water.

Across the site you will see the levels of the interior of the castle. One of the fine fireplaces is still intact on the

north wall. This would have been the level where the Great Hall would have been. Walk up the steps at the corner of the structure and you can look through one of the window seats. Peak through the arrow slit and see what the guards of the castle saw as they aimed their bows through it. The second round tower is still under reconstruction but you can see through the iron gates what the rooms would have looked like. One of them holds the priests chamber.

The graveyard is full of interesting headstones, many dating back with legible inscriptions to the 1700's…though many graves date back to Medieval times and are evident but their nondescript rock-like markers in among the others.

The graveyard's most famous resident is the Medieval King of Leinster. He is said to be buried here somewhere. He once ruled the Leinster province that stretches from north of Dublin to Waterford's borders and into the midlands. Leinster, in the east, is one of four provinces in Ireland; the other three are Munster (south), Connacht (west) and Ulster (north). County Meath was a fifth province but became part of Leinster after the fall of the last great High King, Brian Boru.

The King of Leinster, Dermot McMurrough, battled along side of Richard de Clare, better known as Strongbow, to regain the Kingdom of Leinster. As a reward, his daughter was given in marriage to de Clare. A famous painting called The Marriage of Strongbow is hanging in the National Gallery in Dublin City and takes up the better part of one gallery wall, measuring something in the region of 20 feet by 30 feet. Characters are life size.

Also nearby is the ruin of St Mary's Abbey. The round tower is still intact but no longer available for visitor use.

Ferns Holy Well is the stone covered structure across the main road from the thatch cottage.

Stop into the shops for a map of the village, which details the location and history of the local ruins. Ferns Village is one of Ireland's national historic areas, and it's easy to see why.

St Mary's Abbey