After the tight, overgrown lane down to Pollnadivva Pier, our next stop on day 4 was a much easier one: Roslee Castle, the tower most visitors simply search for as Easkey Castle. It stands right on the shore beside the pier in Easkey, Co. Sligo. In this post we cover the parking and the height barrier, what you find at the car park, the short history behind the three names, and whether it is worth pulling over.
Roslee Castle at a glance
- LocationBeside Easkey pier, Co. Sligo, on the Wild Atlantic Way
- ParkingAbout 14 spaces right beside the castle, free
- Height barrierYes. Open on our visit; we guess around 2.0 to 2.1 m when closed
- Entry feeFree
- FacilitiesPublic toilets, a few benches and tables
- WalkingOptional: the coast road heading east, for more photo spots
- OvernightNo
- Worth it?Yes, ideally on a calm day
One Castle, Three Names
This stop has three names, and you may know it by a different one than we do. On the map it is Roslee Castle. Many people call it O’Dowd’s Castle. And most visitors just search for Easkey Castle, because they know the village, not the castle.
Even the village is spelled two ways: Easkey with an E-Y, or Easky with just a Y. It is all the same place. The name comes from the Irish Iascaigh, meaning “abounding in fish”, after the river that runs into the sea here. Easkey sits on the north Sligo coast, roughly 26 miles from Sligo town and 15 miles from Ballina, and is best known as a surfing village with two reef breaks.
You will find the castle at this spot on Google Maps.
Roslee Castle Parking
You can park right beside the castle. The car park has about fourteen spaces, and parking is free. From the van to the tower is a matter of a few steps, so this is one of the easiest castle stops we have had in Ireland.
Can You Visit Easkey Castle With a Campervan?
Only if the barrier is open. There is a height barrier at the entrance to the car park. It was open when we arrived, so we drove straight in with the Ford Tourneo Custom.
If it is closed, we would guess the limit at around 2.0 to 2.1 metres. That is our estimate, not a measured figure, so check before you rely on it with a higher van. We did not stay overnight here, and it is not a spot we would plan a night at.
Is Roslee Castle Free, and Can You Go Inside?
Visiting is free. There is no ticket desk and no gate; the tower simply stands on the shore next to the car park.
According to Discover Ireland, only the tower remains of the original stronghold, and it is possible to climb to the top via uneven steps for views along the coast. Take that with care: it is a ruin, not a managed attraction, and on a day as windy as ours the top of an open tower is not where you want to be.
The History Behind O’Dowd’s Castle
The castle was built in 1207 for Oliver McDonnell, who married into the O’Dowd family. That is where the name O’Dowd’s Castle comes from, and it later became the seat of the O’Dowd chieftains of Tireragh. The castle was overrun in Cromwell’s time, and it was still used as a garrison during the Williamite wars.
The highest part of the tower is known as the Sailor’s Bed. In heavy storms, the waves are said to reach all the way up to it, which tells you a lot about how exposed this piece of coast is.
Toilets, Benches and a Lunch Stop
Right at the car park there is a small building with public toilets. There are also a few benches and tables, which makes it a nice place to sit for a while, if the weather allows.
That was the catch for us. It was very windy when we were there, so we did not linger. In good weather this would be a really good lunch stop: seating, toilets, a castle and the Atlantic in front of you, all without paying for anything.
Do Not Drive Off Straight Away: The Coast Road East
One last tip before you leave. Heading east from the castle, a road runs right along the coast. You can walk it or drive it, and it offers some more good photo spots along the way, such as this one a little further east.
Is Roslee Castle Worth Visiting?
Yes. It is free, the parking is right there, and you get a 13th-century tower on the edge of the Atlantic with almost no effort. It is not a destination for half a day, but as a stop along the Sligo coast it works very well.
Best Time to Visit
Pick a nice day, and ideally a less windy one than ours. Then the benches and tables make sense and the coast road is a pleasure. If you come in a higher vehicle, have a plan B in case the barrier is down.
Our Honest Takeaway
Yes, it is worth it. Our only real complaint was the weather: it was very windy, and that kept the stop shorter than the place deserves. With calmer weather we would have had lunch here, thanks to the seating and the public toilets. Van travellers just need to know that getting into the car park depends on that height barrier being open.
Our Roslee Castle stop on video
Roslee Castle: 🎥 Walk around the castle ruin on the windy Easkey coast with us – watch from 03:57.
Or watch the full video of our fourth day in Ireland, from the Sligo coast to Erris Head.
Roslee Castle FAQ
Is Roslee Castle the same as Easkey Castle?
Yes. Roslee Castle, O’Dowd’s Castle and Easkey Castle are three names for the same tower beside the pier in Easkey, Co. Sligo. The village itself is spelled both Easkey and Easky.
Where can you park at Roslee Castle?
There is a free car park right beside the castle with about fourteen spaces. It has a height barrier at the entrance, which was open when we visited.
How high is the height barrier at Easkey Castle car park?
We do not have an official figure. The barrier was open on our visit; if it is closed, we would guess the limit at around 2.0 to 2.1 metres. Check on arrival if your van is higher than that.
Is Roslee Castle free to visit?
Yes. We paid nothing for parking or for the castle, and Discover Ireland also lists it as free to visit.
Are there toilets at Roslee Castle?
Yes. There is a small building with public toilets at the car park, plus a few benches and tables.
When was Roslee Castle built?
It was built in 1207 for Oliver McDonnell, who married into the O’Dowd family. It was overrun in Cromwell’s time and was still used as a garrison during the Williamite wars.
Plan your own trip
What we used on our Ireland road trip
📶 Mobile data
We used a local Three SIM — an eSIM is the easiest alternative if you want data from the moment you land. Get an Ireland eSIM from Airalo
🚁 Our drone
Most of our aerial shots were filmed with the Potensic Atom 2. Check the current price on Amazon
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Where We Went Next
From Easkey we drove on into Co. Mayo, to the highlight of our day: Downpatrick Head and the Dún Briste sea stack.
Watch the road trip
See Ireland from the driver's seat
Every stop on this blog is also on our YouTube channel — the drives, the detours and the van-life reality in between.
Subscribe on YouTubeOur Ireland road trip, stop by stop
← Previous stop: Pollnadivva Pier, a tight lane to a small Sligo pier
Next stop → Downpatrick Head, cliffs and the Dún Briste sea stack
⛴️ Planning your own trip over? Here’s how our 24-hour ferry from Dunkirk to Rosslare went.
🗺️ See every stop on our interactive Ireland road trip map.
Planning your own Sligo road trip? Check our Dunmoran Beach post, our Pollnadivva Pier post, our Gleniff Horseshoe drive, our Downpatrick Head post and our Ireland facts before you go.