Here are two shots of Green Castle in Co.Down.
It is one of a trio of Medieval castles dating from the 13th century around Carlingford Lough. The original Green Castle was a Motte and Bailey castle, built very close to the site of the later construction in the photos below.
The original wooden Motte and Bailey castle was built by John de Courcey, with the later stone fortification throught to have been built by Hugh de Lacy. It has been the site of a lot of conflict through the centuries, finally having suffered a bombardment by Cromwellian forces which caused much of the terminal damage.
There is a working farm built more or less right round the western and south-western part of the ruins, but there is still good access to the interior, right up into the ruins of the corner watchtowers.
Together with King John’s Castle in the village of Carlingfors on the southern shore of Carlingford Lough, and Narrow Water keep just outside Warrenpoint, Green Castle was built to protect the surrounding countryside from attack by sea, and ensured Carlingford Lough remained an important strategic and safe trade route for centuries. Warrenpoint Harbour is still Northern Ireland’s second largest port (by tonnage).
The area is steeped in history, and definitely worth a visit. Green Castle is only open to the public on Saturdays during the summer, and has “No Drone Flights” signs all round the car park, but given I took off from the beach 400m away, I didn’t see them 
