During the summer, I had occasion to travel to Portumna to collect some boating equipment with a family member. Our business done, I suggested that we should call into Portumna Castle. It would be my first visit for more than 20 years.

The castle was a fortified residence of Richard Burke, Fourth Earl of Clanrickard and Lord President of Connaught. It was built between 1610 and 1617 and was to become the family seat of the De Burgo, one of Ireland’s great Norman dynasties. It was built on a far grander scale than contemporary structures such as Rathfarnham Castle. It is a magnificent pile now under the care of the Office of Public Works (OPW).

Abandoned after a fire in the early 19th century, the OPW re-roofed the castle and has restored much of the grounds. Internally, the programme of restoration did not appear to have moved forward significantly during the 20 years since I last visited it. The upper floors have not been restored and visitors can marvel at an empty interior through a forest of unfloored beams. While the result may be of interest to architectural historians, the building for the most part is inaccessible and unusable. I think this is a pity.

That raises the wider question. Ireland has so many ruined castles, tower houses, abbeys and landlord’s........

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