castles historical clare

On the far side of Liscannor Bay, 5 km north-west of Lahinch. It is a small fishing village. Kilmacreehy, or St. Macreehy's Church, 1.5 km east of Liscannor, is a medieval parish church, with nave and chancel. It was built in the early 12th century, on the site of a famous school founded by St. Macreehy in the 6th century.

The castle ruin in the village, built by the O'Connors, became an O'Brien stronghold and was occupied by Sir Turlough O'Brien during the threatened invasion at the...

19th century harvest traditions brought to life at Bunratty Folk Park.
Harvest traditions from over 100 years ago will be brought to life at Bunratty Folk Park, when a traditional 19th century Harvest Day will be held by Shannon Heritage, the tourism subsidiary for Shannon Development. One of the highlights of the day will be the vintage threshing machine in the haggard at the Folk Park. Visitors can watch the crew of farmers at work, demonstrating the art of threshing, as they sepa...

Further along the main road is Kilmurray, otherwise Mountcashel, Castle built in 1466 by Conor na Srona, King of Thomond....

It consists of a multi-sided enclosure, fortified by a strong wall probably of 15th century date. At the north end, overlooking the Shannon, is a four-storey tower, and to the east is a tower of three storeys, with a gabled roof and a fireplace on the first floor. Both of these buildings probably belong to the second half of the second half of the 16th century. There are also stout walls of another building within the enclosure.

Mahon O'Brien surrendered the castle to Grey, the Lord...

At the pier there are the remains of a MacMahon castle, captured in 1599 by the Earl of Thomond and given to his brother, Donal O'Brien, ancestor of the viscounts Clare of Clare's Dragons fame. (The Dragoons were part of the late 17th and 18th century Irish Brigade - composed of Irish exiles - in the French Army). When the property was confiscated after the Williamite wars, Carraigaholt Castle and part of the estate passed to the Burton family....

A distinctive 16th century fortified tower house built originally for a branch of the O'Brien's before coming into the possession of the powerful local family of the O'Loghlens. The first three floors exhibit many defensive features such as narrow slit windows, gun loops and murder holes. The main floor presents a visual record of the castle restoration. The second floor is now called the Scriptorium. There are guided tours of the photographic exhibitions of the restoration.

Walking...

The eastern portion of the castle is a 5-story tower built about 1480, with stone vault on the top floor, and a number of holes for guns. A four-storey mansion was added to the west of the tower in the 1640s, and it has some mullioned windows (some of which are modern). Beside the castle was a large bawn, remnants of which can be seen on both sides of the road. The original gate, with an inscription saying that it was erected by Conor O'Brien and his wife Maire Ni Mahon in 1643, was removed a...

Ireland's most popular attraction, Bunratty Castle is also the most complete and authentic mediaeval castle in Ireland....

The original tower house of Knappogue Castle was built by Sean Mac-Con MacNamara in 1467. During the 1641 rebellion the castle was occupied by Cronwellian forces. In the 18th and 19th centuries further additions were made to the original structure. The castle was abandoned in the 1920's and was restored by the Hon. Mark Edwin Andrews and his wife Lavonne in 1966.

Today world famous Medieval Banquets are held at the castle. The Castle is also a popular location for wedding receptions a...

A 16th century MacNamara Castle, right off the road leading from Newmarket to Sixmilebridge, 1km further on you turn left and travel another 1km to the site.

The castle has long been unoccupied, but the estate, then the property of the Vandeleur family, became celebrated in the 19th century as the site of a rural co-operative enterprise, initiated by the then landlord, John Scott Vandeleur, as a means of dealing with the militancy of his refractory tenants. He introduced English expert...