Doonagore Castle is a superb 16th-century Irish castle on the oceanfront in County Clare, less than a kilometer from the village of Doolin. Although off-limits to the public (the castle has been converted into a private holiday home), Doonagore Castle is well worth seeing from the outside: its round tower and defensive enclosure are truly charming!
Doonagore castle – © kwiatek7
Before Doonagore Castle existed, there was already a first castle, built in the 13th century. The present castle dates back only to the 16th century, and was commissioned by Turlough O’Brien of Ennistymon in 1582, who wished to have a castle on the Irish coast, to better monitor the comings and goings of ships on the Atlantic.
In 1588, Spain attempted to invade England… in vain… While Spain was in full retreat, a Spanish ship from the Invicible Armada was wrecked on the Irish coast, not far from the castle.
More than 170 survivors were then taken prisoner by the High Sheriff of County Clare, Boetius MacClancy, who ordered them hanged at Doonagore Castle… Their bodies were then buried in the tumulus of Cnocán an Crochaire, not far from Doolin.
Over the course of history, Doonagore Castle was restored in the early 19th century and in 1970, by architect Rex MacGovern, for a private American buyer, Mr. O’Gorman, who acquired the castle… The O’Gorman family still own the castle today, and use it as a holiday home… (It is therefore not open to the public).
Although it is forbidden to visit the castle’s halls and other interior rooms, it is possible to admire the castle from the outside… The latter is situated on a small hill by the water, and has a small defensive wall protecting the castle’s main tower.
Doonagore Castle is often referred to as “the fort of the rounded hills” or “the fort of the goats”, due to its geographical location and the large number of goats in the area…
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