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Castles of County Clare

Restored banqueting halls, Burren tower houses, and Shannon strongholds

County Clare boasts one of the densest concentrations of late-medieval tower houses and castles in Ireland, many built by the O'Brien and MacNamara clans. From meticulously restored banqueting keeps near the Shannon Estuary to stark limestone ruins in the Burren, each tells a story of clan rivalry and resilience. Here are the finest castles in Clare.
Castle Baun — photo by Roger Diel #3

Castle Baun

Castlebawn is a 16th-century tower house, in County Clare, Ireland. It is on a small island on Lough Derg on the River Shannon, it is connected to the shore of Bealkelly by a man-made causeway. It was built by the McNamaras about 1540, severely damaged in 1827, but is now restored although public access is not permitted to the castle.

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Doonagore Castle — photo by Valfex #4

Doonagore Castle

Doonagore Castle is a round 16th-century tower house with a small walled enclosure located about 1 km south of the coastal village of Doolin in County Clare, Ireland. Its name may be derived from Dún na Gabhair, meaning "the fort of the rounded hills" or the "fort of the goats". Doonagore Castle is at present a private holiday home, inaccessible to the public. Doonagore Castle sits on a hill overlooking Doolin Point and, along with a nearby higher radio mast, is used as a navigational point by boats approaching Doolin Pier. It is located in the townland of Doonagore, parish of Killilagh, County Clare. It is sometimes considered to be located in the area known as the Burren.[1]:99

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Ballymarkahan Castle — photo by Mike Searle #7

Ballymarkahan Castle

Ballymarkahan Castle is a ruined tower house in the parish of Quin, in County Clare, Ireland. It was listed by Irish antiquarian T. J. Westropp as one of the 195 "lesser castles", or peel towers, of County Clare in 1899, by which time it was already a ruin. It was mentioned as a ruin in the Ordnance Survey Letters of John O'Donovan and Eugene O'Curry in 1839. It is marked on the Ordnance Survey map of 1842. The castle dates from the fifteenth century, some time after the construction of Quin Abbey, and was built by the MacNamara family, who built a number of castles in the area, including nearby Knappogue Castle. According to Westropp, it was built in 1430 by "Donall, son of Shane an Gabhaltais."

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Ballyhannon Castle — photo by Roger Diel #8

Ballyhannon Castle

Ballyhannon Castle is a medieval Irish castle dating back to the 15th century, located near the village of Quin in County Clare, on the west coast of Ireland. It is fully intact and in the Irish Governmental records it is registered as a National Monument and "Listed/Protected" structure, intended to protect its historic, architectural and aesthetic significance.

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O'Dea Castle — photo by Odea at English Wikipedia #9

O'Dea Castle

O'Dea Castle, also known as Dysert O'Dea Castle, is an Irish fortified tower house, loosely described as a castle at Dysert O'Dea (Irish: Dísert, meaning 'hermitage'), the former O'Dea clan stronghold, 5 kilometres (3 mi) from Corofin, County Clare. It was built between 1470 and 1490 by Diarmaid O'Dea, Lord of Cineal Fearmaic, and stands some 50 feet (15 m) high on a limestone outcrop base measuring 20 by 40 feet (6 by 12 m). The tower is adjacent to Dysert O'Dea Monastery, close to the R476 road.

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