S1, E1: Presented by Simon Delaney and featuring specially shot re-enactments, archive footage and contributions from Ireland's leading historians, archaeologists and castle owners, Episode 1 documents the political state of Ireland in the 12th C, leading to the invasion of the Normans in 1169. The Normans introduced the concept of castle building to Ireland and before long castles began to spring up throughout the country, in particular along the more populated east coast. This episode explores some of the earliest Norman castles in Ireland in Dublin, Trim, Carrickfergus, Limerick and Ashford Castle in Mayo now a 5* star hotel and exclusive home movie footage of the legendary American actor John Wayne who stayed at the hotel when he was filming John Ford's The Quiet Man .