Dunguaire Castle is a small 17th century castle on a rocky promontory, situated just outside the picturesque village of Kinvara on the shores of Galway Bay . This castle was built 500 years ago in an inspirational place commanding the shores of the majestic Galway Bay . The Castle takes it name from the nearby ancient fort of Guaire, King of Connaught who died in 662 AD. He was famed to have a longer right arm from all the hospitality he issued his guests. Modern-day visitors can sample this at the seasonal medieval banquets held in the castle and can learn more about the more recent history of the castle. In 1924 Dunguaire was bought and repaired by Oliver St. John Gogarty, the famous surgeon and literary figure. This was the time of the great Celtic revival in Irish literature exemplified by the works of writers such as Synge, Yeats Shaw and O'Casey. It 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.In 1954 the castle was acquired by Christobel Lady Amptill who completed the restoration started by Olive St Gogarty. Currently operated by Shannon Heritage, the castle is restored to show the living standards of its 16 th century occupants.