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O’Brien Castle is a superb Irish fort, now in ruins, on the island of Inisheer, part of the Aran Islands. Built in the 14th century, the castle underwent a major siege and was destroyed during Cromwell’s Conquests. The castle is still partially standing, and possesses an elusive, authentic charm!

History of O’Brien Castle

A castle that fell victim to a terrible siege, then to the Cromwellian conquests

O’Brien Castle was built in the 14th century for the O’Brien family, a powerful family who had already ruled the island of Inisheer for many years. The castle was inhabited by the clan for many years, until it was besieged in 1582 by another Irish clan: the O’Flahertys. This family is far more powerful than the O’Briens, and already rules over parts of Connemara.

At the end of the siege, the O’Briens conceded defeat and surrendered the castle to the victors. But the O’Flahertys’ victory was short-lived. It was in the 17th century that the castle suffered another assault: that of Oliver Cromwell, who came to crush Irish demands in 1649.

The battle was terrible: the O’Flahertys were unable to overpower Cromwell’s troops, who did not hesitate to mobilize all possible artillery against the castle ramparts. The battle was soon lost to the Irish clan, and the castle lay in ruins, ravaged by multiple cannonballs.

Since then, the castle has remained unchanged, and has been registered with Irish Heritage as a major tourist site on the small island of Inisheer.

Visit O’Brien Castle

A hilltop fort facing the ocean

Although rickety, parts of the castle are still accessible to visitors, provided they take extreme care to avoid a massive landslide. It’s not worth risking injury by being a little too adventurous… (And above all, it will spoil your vacation).

To get close to O’Brien Castle, you’ll have to cross several low dry-stone walls, located all around the castle… These walls are believed to be the remains of ancient buildings that were probably amassed around the fort… The latter would not have survived the passage of time, nor the conquests of Cromwell, who ravaged the entire castle and its surroundings during the 17th century.

Once you’ve approached the castle, we recommend you exercise extreme caution: the stone walls are rickety, and the stability of the edifice is questionable…

Practical Guide