Meet the kings of their very own castle

AS a child, Oranmore Castle held an irresistible fascination for me. The imposing castle at the Head of Galway Bay holds court over the picturesque village of Oranmore, made famous in song and in story.

My childhood friends and I spent many summer evenings playing make-believe games in the intriguing grounds of the castle. It was the perfect place to re-invent the world of Kings and Queens. We engaged in battle with wooden swords and dared each other to climb the terrifying turrets.

When the flag was flying, though, we knew that Commander King and his family were in residence, so we kept a low profile.