Gleninagh Castle

Gleninagh Castle, County Clare .

Gleninagh Castle, County Clare Photo © Dr Charles Nelson, June 1989

Gleninagh Castle, Located 3 miles NW of Ballyvaughan, is a 16th century towerhouse with circular corner turrets. The tower is in a state of partial preservation. It was built by the O' Loughlans (O'Lochlainns) and inhabited by them until the 1840's.

The castle is an L-Shaped plan comprising an oblong tower of four storeys with a projecting turret containing a spiral stair. The entrance doorway which may have been moved from elsewhere lies at first-floor level with a protecting machicolation high above in the turret. Striking round bartizans are present on three corners of the main tower while an attic in its roof was contained behind gables on all four sides. The third storey is vaulted and there is another over a dark basement which may have been used as a prison. In the end wall a number of window embrasures were later blocked for fireplaces.