Dunguaire castle has a starring role in the 1969 Disney movie called Guns in the Heather. It went by the name of Boyne Castle in the footage. Dunguaire also starred as a Scottish castle in the 1979 movie, North Sea Hijack.
It was the O’Hynes – descendants of Guaire, the King of Connacht – who built the Danguire castle as a family stronghold around 1520. They were known as the Lords of Aidhne, and were owners of the surrounding land.
Castle Dunguaire was bought from the Martyn’s by Oliver St. John Gogarty. He was a renowned literary character who had the castle fully repaired and was one of the top figureheads who led the Celtic resurgence movement of Irish literature.
In fact, it was under his patronage that Dunguaire was used to host literary meetings. They used to be attended by Synge, Yates, O’Casey, and other revivalists of that era.