swords castle

The castle was built around 1200 as an Episcopal manor. It is 5-sided, enclosing a courtyard of considerable size.
It is entered by a strong gateway with a porter's room on the left, and on the right a priest's room with remains of mid-13th century windows and a first floor reached by a spiral staircase.

Beyond it is a chapel of fourteenth-century date, with parts of an original tiled floor; its windows have been built up. The tower at the north end of the wall was the residence of the Constable of the Castle.
The crenellations are 15th century. A weekly court was held in the castle, and Queen Elizabeth I gave the town municipal rights in 1578.

There is a Round Tower in the grounds of the Church of Ireland church about 200 yards to the south-west of the castle.