Craggaunowen Castle

Craggaunowen Castle is a superb 16th-century Irish castle, now open to visitors and used as an open-air archaeological museum. Located in County Clare, 10 km east of Quin, this beautiful castle was restored in the 1960s and today offers a fabulous attraction for lovers of castles and Irish history!

Visit Craggaunowen Castle

A castle converted into an open-air museum

Craggaunowen Castle was built in 1550 for John MacSioda MacNamara. Inhabited for a time by his family, the castle nevertheless came under attack from Cromwell in 1653, completely destroying its roof, main staircase and ramparts. Left derelict, it was taken over by Tom Steele, a close friend of Daniel O’Connell, who decided to restore the château and turn it into a mansion.

He had the building rebuilt and used it as a summer home during the 1820s. On his death in 1848, the estate’s lands were divided up and eventually bought by the Irish Land Commission, who decided to leave the castle abandoned once again.

The castle was only restored in 1960 by John Hunt, who decided to convert a wing of the fortress into a public museum. You’ll be able to visit it from top to bottom, discover the old living quarters and, above all, enjoy the open-air museum built by the owner. In this museum, you can admire reconstructions of Irish archaeological remains… You’ll come across a dolmen, a crannog, a circular fort, ogham stones and a Currach, an ancient Galway boat.

The tour is great, and suitable for the whole family. An experienced guide will tell you all about the history of the castle, as well as Ireland’s prehistoric and medieval past, in this open-air archaeological museum. A great experience, to be enjoyed without hesitation!