Location: Munster Map
Constructed: 1480 by the McMahons
Carrigaholt Castle, located in the small fishing village of Carrigaholt, County Clare, Ireland, is a well-preserved 15th-century tower house that stands as a testament to the region’s turbulent history and strategic importance. Situated on the Loop Head Peninsula at the mouth of the Shannon Estuary, the castle’s imposing structure and dramatic coastal setting make it a striking landmark, though its interior is inaccessible due to safety concerns and a haunting reputation.
Carrigaholt Castle, a well-preserved late medieval tower house,
stands at the end of a fishing pier in the village of Carrigaholt on the
Loop Head Peninsula in County Clare, Ireland, overlooking the Shannon
Estuary and Carrigaholt Bay. Constructed around 1480, it served as the
fortified residence of the MacMahon (McMahon) clan, the last Gaelic
chieftains of the Corcabascinn Peninsula (also known as West Corca
Baiscinn). As a classic example of a 15th-century Irish tower house, it
reflects the defensive architecture of the era, designed to control
local trade, fishing, and shipping routes while providing protection
against rivals and invaders. Today, the castle is a protected national
monument under the care of the Office of Public Works (OPW), open as an
unguided heritage site, though only the exterior and grounds are
accessible to the public due to its ruined interior state.
Construction and Architectural Features (Late 15th Century)
The
castle was built circa 1480 by the MacMahons, descendants of Mathgamain
mac Cennétig (a historical figure linked to the Dál gCais dynasty and
brother to Brian Boru), who ruled the western part of County Clare. This
five-storey structure, made from local flagstone and limestone with
battered (sloping) walls for added defense, measures approximately one
room wide and rises to about 26 meters (85 feet) in height. Key features
include a central pointed doorway on the east (or south, per some
descriptions) wall protected by a murder hole (machicolation) for
dropping projectiles on attackers, narrow slit windows and gun-loops for
archers or firearms, a bartizan (overhanging turret) on the northwest
corner for surveillance, and a spiral staircase of 104 steps leading to
a stone-vaulted roof with battlements. The tower is positioned in the
southwest corner of a bawn (enclosed courtyard) with later walls,
including a northeast corner turret, and was surrounded by a metal
grille gateway for security. Internally, it features vaulted ceilings on
the ground and third floors, corbels supporting upper levels, twin-light
windows added later, and a limestone fireplace on the fourth (or fifth)
floor inscribed "D.B. 1603," referring to later modifications. Its
strategic location allowed the MacMahons to dominate the estuary, taxing
vessels and engaging in local power struggles during a period of Gaelic
lordship amid encroaching English influence.
16th-Century
Conflicts and the Spanish Armada (1580s)
The castle's history
intensified during the Tudor conquest of Ireland. In September 1588,
under the occupancy of Teige Caech "the short-sighted" MacMahon, seven
ships from the defeated Spanish Armada anchored in the nearby estuary
seeking provisions and repairs after their failed invasion of England.
The MacMahons, wary of English reprisals, refused aid to the Spanish,
though local legends embellish this with tales of Teige inviting the
crews ashore, slaughtering them, looting their gold (which he supposedly
melted into a sow and piglets buried in the strand), and scuttling the
ships. Shortly after, English forces under Sir Conyers Clifford,
Governor of Connacht, besieged the castle but were repelled.
The
following year, in 1589, Donagh O'Brien, the 4th Earl of Thomond—a
renegade allied with the English—laid siege to Carrigaholt for four
days. The defenders surrendered under promises of safe passage, but
O'Brien breached the terms and hanged them all, marking a brutal shift
in control. Ownership passed to Donagh's brother, Donal O'Brien, who
made modifications including new windows and the dated fireplace in
1603. The last MacMahon associated with the castle was Teigue Keigh,
after which Queen Elizabeth I granted it to Henry O'Brien.
17th-Century Rebellions and Ownership Changes
In the 17th century,
the castle became tied to broader Irish conflicts. Donal O'Brien's
grandson, Daniel O'Brien, the 3rd Viscount Clare, resided there and
raised a regiment of horse known as the "Yellow Dragoons" to support
Catholic King James II during the Williamite War (1689-1691). Following
James II's defeat at the Battle of the Boyne and the Treaty of Limerick,
the viscount's extensive 57,000-acre estate, including Carrigaholt, was
forfeited to the victorious Williamites (supporters of Protestant
William of Orange). Earlier, during the Cromwellian conquest, the castle
endured another siege in 1649 by Parliamentary forces under General
Edmund Ludlow, who captured it as part of the suppression of Irish
Catholic resistance. The structure withstood these assaults relatively
intact, though red brick alterations from this era reflect adaptations
for residential use. Post-forfeiture, the castle was acquired by the
Protestant Burton family, who held it as part of their estate.
18th-19th Century: Residential Decline
Under the Burtons, Carrigaholt
transitioned from a fortress to a more domestic residence, with
modifications to suit genteel living, though it retained its defensive
character. The family occupied it until the late 19th century, with
Richard Burton noted as the last resident. By this time, the castle had
fallen into partial disrepair, reduced to a shell of its former
grandeur, as the Burtons abandoned it amid Ireland's land reforms and
economic shifts.
20th Century to Present: Preservation and
Legends
Around 1919, the estate was sold to the McGrath family,
marking the end of Burton ownership. In modern times, the castle passed
into state care under the OPW, which maintains it as a heritage site
with informational signage, though the interior remains closed due to
safety concerns. It attracts visitors for its scenic views and
historical significance, standing as one of Ireland's best-preserved
tower houses.
Local folklore adds a supernatural layer, with stories
of a haunted sealed room where an exorcist died in the 1920s, his body
found in terror, and rumors of an older sunken fortress nearby. These
tales, while unverified, enhance its mystique. The castle's enduring
presence symbolizes the transition from Gaelic strongholds to colonial
estates and modern tourism in Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way.
Carrigaholt Castle, located in the village of Carrigaholt on the Loop
Head Peninsula in County Clare, Ireland, is a late 15th-century tower
house constructed around 1480 by the MacMahons (also spelled McMahons),
the Gaelic chiefs of the West Corcavaskin (Corcabascin) region.
Overlooking the Shannon Estuary, it served as a defensive stronghold
rather than a luxurious residence, exemplifying the typical Irish tower
house architecture of the period—compact, vertical, and fortified for
protection against raids and invasions. The castle consists of a slim
five-storey rectangular tower, enclosed within a bawn (walled courtyard)
that includes a corner turret, creating a self-contained defensive
complex. Built primarily from local rubble limestone bonded with lime
mortar, the structure emphasizes functionality with features like murder
holes, spiral staircases, and vaulted ceilings. Its architecture
reflects the transitional style between medieval Gaelic fortifications
and later influences, with modifications evident from the 17th to 19th
centuries, including extensions and internal reshaping using red brick.
Today, the castle stands as one of Ireland's best-preserved tower
houses, though partially ruined and abandoned since the mid-19th
century, and is accessible to visitors as a historical site.
Structural Features and Design Elements
The core of Carrigaholt
Castle is its five-storey tower, which is notably slim—equivalent in
width to just one room—allowing for a compact footprint while maximizing
height for surveillance over the estuary. The tower is positioned in the
southwest corner of the bawn, a later-enclosed courtyard that provided
additional defensive space for livestock, servants, and activities. The
bawn features high curtain walls and a northeast corner turret,
enhancing perimeter defense. Entry to the tower is through a
pointed-arch doorway, typically on the east or south elevation, leading
into a lobby area equipped with a murder hole overhead for dropping
projectiles on intruders. From here, vaulted chambers extend to the
north and south on the ground floor, used historically for storage and
possibly living quarters.
Vertical circulation is provided by a wide
spiral staircase, winding clockwise to favor defenders in combat, which
grants access to the upper levels and culminates at a stone-vaulted
roof. The second and third floors retain corbels that once supported
wooden beams for flooring, with one original wall plate beam still in
situ on the third floor. The fourth floor features a well-preserved
limestone fireplace inscribed with "DB 1603" (referring to Daniel
O'Brien, a later owner), and a projecting bartizan (overhanging turret)
in the northwest corner for extended visibility and defense. At roof
level, a machicolation (projecting bracket) overlooks the entrance for
additional protection. The ground-floor northern chamber includes red
brick storage units, likely for wine, under a low vaulted ceiling
showing traces of wicker centring—a medieval construction technique
using woven baskets as temporary supports for arches during building.
Evidence of adjoining structures includes two rooflines and a blocked-up
doorway on the first-floor level of the southern elevation, indicating
former extensions. The west gable displays projecting lines of stones
marking two later additions, while an artificially raised gravel
platform extends westward along the bawn's southern side, possibly part
of formal gardens. A metal grille gateway further secured the entrance,
underscoring the castle's defensive priorities.
Materials and
Construction Techniques
The castle is primarily built from local
rubble limestone, forming the core walls and tower, bonded with coarse
lime mortar for durability against the coastal elements. Red brick was
extensively used in later modifications, including internal reshaping,
storage units, and estate features like walls and piers—reflecting 18th-
and 19th-century influences. The vaulted ceilings employ corbelled
arches and wicker centring, a cost-effective method where woven
materials supported wet mortar until it set. Limestone was also used for
finer details, such as the fourth-floor fireplace, while drystone
construction appears in basal courses and drains uncovered in
excavations. These materials and techniques highlight a blend of Gaelic
vernacular building with Anglo-Norman defensive styles, adapted to the
peninsula's available resources and strategic needs.
Historical
Evolution of the Architecture
Constructed in the late 15th century by
the MacMahons as a wartime fortress, the castle's initial design focused
on defense, with its tower providing oversight of the Shannon for
monitoring shipping and threats. By 1603, under Daniel O'Brien, minor
enhancements like the inscribed fireplace suggest ownership changes and
possible internal upgrades. The bawn and corner turret were added later,
strengthening the enclosure.
In the late 17th century, a mansion was
appended to the south, evidenced by basal remains like walls with
embrasures, hearths, and stone-lined drains uncovered in archaeological
trenches. The 18th century saw extensive refurbishment under new owners,
including the construction of Carrigaholt Cottage as the primary
residence, relegating the castle to servants' quarters. Red brick was
introduced for internal alterations and garden features, such as a
hearth with slabs and cobbles. Occupied until the mid-19th century, the
castle was abandoned after the Burton family's tenure, with the estate
divided and sold following earlier defeats in conflicts like the
Williamite War.
A unique 20th-century modification involved a sealed
room on an upper floor, bricked up after a 1920s incident where an
exorcist reportedly died following its unsealing, leading to its
permanent closure and local folklore about hauntings.
Modern
Condition and Preservation
In its current state, Carrigaholt Castle
remains structurally intact but ruined, with the tower and bawn walls
standing amid a coastal setting near a fishing pier. Archaeological
excavations in 2002 revealed subsurface features like walls, drains, and
garden elements, confirming its layered history. The site is not
formally managed but is open to the public, though entry into the
interior is restricted due to safety concerns, including the sealed
room. Preservation focuses on maintaining its heritage value, with its
proximity to the sea posing risks from erosion and weathering. As a
symbol of Gaelic resilience, the castle's architecture continues to
attract visitors interested in Ireland's medieval past.
Carrigaholt Castle has gained notoriety as one of Ireland’s most
haunted sites, particularly due to a sealed room believed to harbor a
malevolent spirit. This reputation stems from a chilling incident in the
1920s, when an exorcist reportedly died of fright the morning after
attempting to cleanse the room. The room was permanently sealed, and
entry to the castle is now forbidden, partly for safety and partly due
to its sinister reputation.
Haunting Claims: Author Ann O’Regan,
a specialist in Irish hauntings, advises avoiding the castle, noting
that even paranormal investigators steer clear. She describes the sealed
room as containing a “malevolent spirit” best left undisturbed. Local
lore also mentions ghostly military exercises observed in nearby fields
as early as 1875.
Cultural Impact: The castle’s eerie reputation has
made it a subject of fascination for ghost enthusiasts, though its
inaccessibility limits direct investigation. Visitors are cautioned to
respect the site’s warnings and check access conditions before visiting.
Carrigaholt Castle is a highlight of the Loop Head Peninsula, part of
the Wild Atlantic Way, known for its rugged coastal scenery, seafood
restaurants, and dolphin-watching tours. The castle’s grounds offer
stunning views of the Shannon Estuary and opportunities for photography,
though its interior remains off-limits. Its historical and haunting
allure attracts visitors seeking a quieter, less touristy experience of
County Clare. Nearby attractions include Loop Head Lighthouse, Kilkee
Beach, and the Bridges of Ross.
Community Role: The village of
Carrigaholt, with its fishing pier and Irish-speaking heritage (part of
the West Clare Gaeltacht until 1956), relies on tourism and fishing. The
castle serves as a focal point for local history and pride, with
information boards enhancing the visitor experience.
Access and
Recommendations: Visitors can walk around the castle grounds but should
verify accessibility due to private ownership and structural concerns.
Tripadvisor reviews praise the castle’s serene location and historical
charm, recommending it as a stop on a Loop Head driving tour.