The Dunguaire Castle on Galway Bay. was built by the Hynes Clan in 1520. However, their association with the site goes back to 662 AD when Guaire, King of Connaught, who was an ancestor of the 15th century Clan, ruled the kingdom from an earthwork Rath close to the site of the present Castle. In the 17th century the Castle passed to Richard Martyn, Mayor of Galway.
Subsequently, it was purchased by Oliver St. John Gogarty and became the venue for meetings of the literary revivalists such as W.B. Yeats, his patron Lady Gregory, George Bernard Shaw, Edward Martin and J.M. Synge. Yeats, in particular, believed strongly in the Celtic bardic tradition and set about reviving the ancient oral customs incorporating them into his plays and poetry.
The castle was acquired in 1954 by Christobel Lady Ampthill who completed the restoration work started by Oliver St. Gogarty. Subsequently, the Castle became the property of Shannon Development.
The Medieval Banquet held in the Castle each night celebrates the richness of its literary and musical past giving life once more to the colourful characters who are so much part of the Castle's history.