Carrigaholt Castle

Carrigaholt Castle is a ruined Irish castle in County Clare, near the village of Carrigaholt. Built in 1480 by the McMahon clan, the castle is magnificent today despite its state of disrepair, and possesses a strangely appealing charm…

Visit Carrigaholt Castle

A fortified 15th-century castle

Carrigaholt Castle takes the form of a large square tower, distributed over 5 floors and topped by 2 chimneys. At the time, its summit offered an incredible panorama of the Shannon estuary, but its current state makes it impassable to visitors. At the time, the building was the symbol of great nobility, and the pride of the McMahon family. It did, however, endure several sieges, but these did not affect its appearance or its solidity.

After many conflicts, the castle passed into the hands of the Burton family, before being abandoned around the 20th century. Since then, the castle has been an empty shell, lost in the Irish countryside of County Clare. Owned by Ireland’s Office of Public Works, the castle is nonetheless accessible on foot, and can at least be admired from the outside (as the inside is rickety, we advise against venturing inside). Its architecture is remarkable, and a typical example of 15th-century tower houses. You can even make out traces of ancient fortifications, some of whose walls are still standing.

In short, a castle with a strong history, which should charm lovers of ruined castles!