Doonagore Castle in Ireland

Doonagore Castle is a circular, 14th century tower house with a small walled enclosure, in the outskirts of the small town Doolin in county Clare, Ireland. Also known as the ‘fort of the rounded hills’ and ‘the fort of the goats’, Doonagore sits on a high hill overlooking Doolin. It is used as a navigational point, for boats, which come into Doolin Pier.

The castle was built by Teigue MacTurlough MacCon O’Connor, from stone drawn from the quarry of Tra Leachain some time during the 1300’s, although some sources date the castle to the 15th century. It was granted to Sir Turlough O’Brien of Ennistymon (a neighbouring town of Doolin) in1582. Then during the retreat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, from its failed attempt to invade England, 170 survivors of a Spanish shipwreck were caught by the high sheriff of County Clare, Boetius Mc Clancy and then were hanged at Doonagore Castle and buried in a barrow outside of Doolin.

In the early 1800’s the castle was repaired, but by the middle of that century, it had begun to deteriorate once again in the hands of the Nagle family. A private purchaser who resides there once again restored it in the 1970’s.

Doonagore castle is a magnificent sight on the hill looking out over the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded with nothing but green fields and hills. The setting is quite isolated and lonely but the beauty of the castle and its history is still superb. For those who like to walk and appreciate fresh air and breathtaking views, Doonagore Castle is the place to see.

The castle is currently a private residence and is inaccessible to the public.