Markree Castle

The estate's origins date back to the 14th century, when it was a fortified outpost of the McDonald clan. In 1663, Markree Castle was granted to Cornet Edward Cooper after he defeated the O'Brian clan under Oliver Cromwell. Cooper married the widow of the defeated O'Brian, thereby establishing the Cooper line at Markree. During the turmoil surrounding King James II, the Coopers had to flee but were able to return after the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. Another brief occupation by the Irish Free State army occurred in 1920. A significant event was the construction of the Markree Observatory in 1830 by Edward Joshua Cooper, whose telescope was at times the largest in the world. The observatory operated until 1902. Markree Castle recorded Ireland's lowest temperature, –19 degrees Celsius, on January 16, 1881. The castle's current appearance dates back to renovations in 1802 by architect Francis Johnston. After Brian Cooper's death in 1930, the castle stood empty for a long time before being converted into a hotel by Charles Cooper in 1989.

The castle is located in Collooney in County Sligo, in the Connacht region of Ireland, at an elevation of approximately 34 meters above sea level.

Today, Markree Castle houses a hotel managed by the tenth generation of the Cooper family. The estate spans 1.2 square kilometers and boasts rich wildlife. Inside, visitors can admire a monumental staircase, a stained-glass window depicting the family tree, and a dining room furnished in the Louis-Philippe style.

• Parke’s Castle (castle), approx. 13.1 km away
• Lough Rynn Castle (castle), approx. 50.9 km away
• Monea Castle (ruin), approx. 52.5 km away
• Tully Castle (ruin), approx. 53.1 km away