Particularly at this time of year, it is hard to catch a picture of Ross Castle, County Kerry without the inclusion of milling crowds since every car, coach and jaunting cart in the area visits the place. Located on the shore of Lough Leane, the castle is a 15th century tower house and keep originally constructed for the the O’Donoghues Mór. It passed to the McCarthys in the 1580s and thence to Sir Valentine Browne, forebear of the Earls of Kenmare. Today it is under the care of the Office of Public Works.
As I have commented before (and knowing the country’s tourism agency has tried to expand interest in other locations), the reason so many sites are forgotten is this tourism concentration on certain locations. Blame the tour companies and their advertising. Locals (particularly officials) might pay more attention if someone realizes the tourism value. On the other hand, some locals – perhaps rightly so- don’t want the crowds and strangers in their backyards.