Granuaile’s Castle is a medieval tower on Clare Island, Ireland. It was once owned by the famous Irish pirate Grace O’Malley in the 16th century. Built close to the port, it was ideally placed to monitor Clew Bay activities.
Just a few yards from Clare Island harbour, Grace O’Malley Castle is believed to have been built in the 16th century. By this time, the Irish pirate had made Clare Island her stronghold, keeping a watchful eye on maritime activity in the surrounding area.
The castle was the perfect setting for her controversial activities: set up on her island, she could leave at any time in the event of an attempted assault.
Granuaile’s Castle was a fine example of a “tower house”, typical of the period. Built over 3 floors, it allowed the pirate to live in comfort during her retirement phases.
The large living room was on the 1st floor: it was here that Grace O’Malley feasted with her guests, and planned her future acts of piracy. The upper floors were dedicated to bedrooms and kitchens.
In excellent condition despite the passage of time, the building still appears intact today. You can admire it from the outside, but for security reasons you can’t get inside.
For the record, the château was converted into a police barracks in the 1820s, before finally being abandoned.
Essential information to help you plan your visit, including key landmarks, access information, and booking options.
53.800159, -9.952092
20 minutes
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