Rock of Dunamase, Portlaoise: Address, Phone Number, Rock of Dunamase Reviews: 4.5/5
Rock of Dunamase
Rock of Dunamase
4.5
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The area
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We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
11 within 5 kms

Indian Prince Restaurant
225
4 km€€ - €€€ • Indian • Asian • Healthy

Sarah's Country Kitchen
17
3.6 km€€ - €€€ • Irish • Gluten Free Options

Treacy's Bar & Restaurant
290
4.1 km€€ - €€€ • Irish • Bar • European

O'Gormans
184
4 km€€ - €€€ • Irish • Bar • Pub

Brew Cafe
35
4.1 km€€ - €€€ • Irish • Cafe • Vegetarian Friendly

Stradbally Fayre
119
4.2 km€€ - €€€ • Irish • Cafe • European

The Arch
4
4.2 kmItalian • Cafe • Grill • Diner
Stradbally Fayre
7
4.2 km

Cedar Rooms Restaruant
26
4.3 km€€ - €€€ • Irish • International • European

Malik S. Takeaway
13
4.6 km€ • Quick Bites • Pizza • Fast food
Attractions
10 within 10 kms

Emo Court
231
Historic Sites • Gardens

St. Colman's Church - Russian Orthodox Church
1
3.5 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Churches & Cathedrals

Ballykilcavan Brewery
11
Breweries
Dunamaise Arts Centre
12
Theatres

Timahoe Heritage Centre
10
History Museums

Oakvale Monastery
2
Historic Sites • Churches & Cathedrals
Dunamase Antiques
7
Antique Shops

O'Moore Park
5
Arenas & Stadiums

The Store Yard
4
Antique Shops

Ballintubbert Gardens and House
5
Gardens
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Popular mentions
4.5
490 reviews
Excellent
336
Very good
131
Average
22
Poor
0
Terrible
1
LandPC
Ireland’s Ancient East, Ireland157 contributions
Mar 2022
Had a really enjoyable visit here on a lovely Spring day. The terrain and the ruined buildings are amazing and the place is steeped in history but only a brief summary is available on the signboards.
Well worth the visit
Well worth the visit
Written 4 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Cycle Dublin Bike Tours
Dublin, Ireland46 contributions
Jan 2022 • Friends
Amazing ruined castle sitting on top of a hill. Great views all around. Lots of history and it’s free! We’ll worth stopping off the Motorway to see
Written 4 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Erik K
Pittsburgh, PA657 contributions
Sep 2021
My friend brought us here and said we absolutely needed to see it, she wasn't wrong!
This was absolutely amazing, got to walk through the ruins and perched up on the hill you could see for miles, it's easy to understand why a castle was build on this high ground!
This was absolutely amazing, got to walk through the ruins and perched up on the hill you could see for miles, it's easy to understand why a castle was build on this high ground!
Written 30 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
EmeraldIsle1703
County Dublin, Ireland378 contributions
Sep 2021
It had been a long time since I wanted to see this place and it was fabulous to walk through the ruins and have those amazing views all around
Written 7 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
rubylass
cork137 contributions
Jun 2021 • Friends
Breathtaking views and well worth stopping. Despite the fact that there are no facilities on site, it really does add to the experience. We visited with 2 very small kids and they loved running around the ruins. The views were spectacular and even thought it was busy when we visited we didn’t feel it was over crowded as there’s so much space. I would recommend anyone to visit if in the area.
Written 17 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Bernie S
Belfast, UK588 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
We visited this site while staying overnight in Portlaoise. It is a very impressive site which has stunning views for miles. It is accessed from a small car park behind a church. The road signs to it end before you find it but Google maps can do the last bit. The path to the top is a gravel path which is steep in parts. For those with difficulty walking it might not be ideal nor for wheelchair access. For those with moderate difficulty in climbing heights it is possible. It is an old castle with an inner and outer keep. No toilets are available. Well worth a visit. It takes about an hour.
Written 17 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Paul C
Dublin, Ireland12 contributions
Jul 2021
Fabulous views , well worth the climb. Be careful with younger kids you are climbing a ruined castle. no amenities bring drinks.
Written 17 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
phantasmus
Ireland484 contributions
May 2021
If you love experiencing history first-hand, this is for you. The ruins of a centuries-old structure that you can freely explore and walk around/in, with lovely views of the local farms and fields. If you're near Portlaoise and have an hour or so to spend, this is a lovely place to visit. Entry is free and there's also a lovely church and historic cemetery right next door.
Written 16 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
disbenmed
Galway, Ireland67 contributions
Jun 2021
Gorgeous ruins of a castle , set in a location guaranteed to provide stunning views over neighboring territory. Real history as well , going back to earliest Norman invaders.
Written 10 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Cdunne97@yahoo.ie
Dublin, Ireland23 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
Beautiful scenery..i would not reccomend for people who cannot walk up steep hills and rocks..but worth a visit just to look at..and read about the history
Written 20 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
red87alert
Montreal, Canada63 contributions
How long does it take to climb the mountain and so how much time would I allot for this site? Thank you
laoiscyclist.blogspot.com
Mountmellick, Ireland82 contributions
A couple of minutes... If in the area I highly recommend a 5 min drive from there to the historic ruins of Oughaval Church just down the Road near the bottom of the hill towards Stradbally. It was home to the Book of Leinster once...
Jalene K
2 contributions
For someone using a rental car, is the parking area seem safe enough? What if you have luggage in the car?
Kiera W
Dublin, Ireland18 contributions
Hi jalene its a very small car park and you are right beside attraction so id say safe enough , as you climb you can see your car but it’s entirely up to each person have a pleasant trip
Karen F
San Gabriel, CA53 contributions
Is this site able to accommodate an electric scooter for someone who is disabled?
Vickie R
8 contributions
I had torn my achilles - while in Ireland. I managed to hobble up most of the way. Not to the top - but far enough. An electric scooter would have been awesome to have.
shamrock547
Oakhurst, NJ92 contributions
Is there a fee to visit the site. I am considering adding it to my group trip for next year.
Ray H
Portlaoise, Ireland7 contributions
No fee on visiting the Rock of Dunamase. Well worth visiting as it is only 4 - 5 minutes from the motorway. If you have additional time on your visit there is a beautiful monastic site and heritage centre at Timahoe 10Km south of the Rock of Dunamase. A facebook page dedicated to the Rock of Dunamase and county laois history and heritage is up and running.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rock of Dunamase
- We recommend booking Rock of Dunamase tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 2 Rock of Dunamase tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Rock of Dunamase:
- (15.09 km) Ballyfin
- (4.32 km) The Killeshin Hotel
- (11.97 km) The Heritage
- (6.21 km) Midlands Park Hotel
- (6.34 km) Maldron Hotel Portlaoise
- Restaurants near Rock of Dunamase:
- (4.01 km) Indian Prince Restaurant
- (6.12 km) Mayur Indian Restaurant
- (6.25 km) Kelly’s Steakhouse
- (4.07 km) Treacy's Bar & Restaurant
- (6.15 km) The Pantry