Castle Mael (in ruins)

On low-lying level improved pastureland. The castle originally stood surrounded by poor rocky land which has since been reclaimed. Indicated and named ‘Castle Mael (in ruins)’ on the 1842 and 1915 eds. of the OS 6-inch maps. The castle is recorded as being in O’Loughlin possession in 1574 and as being conveyed to Turlough O’Brien in 1584 (Ua Cróinín and Breen 2014). In 1641 the Hogans were in residence and in 1664 Redmond Magner, both as tenants of the Earl of Inchiquin (ibid.). In 1706, the then Earl William O’Brien mortgaged it to Sir Donough O’Brien of Dromoland and in 1711 it appeared in a list of his land, but the occupiers were not noted. By 1839 it was in ruins (ibid.). Not visible at ground level. The following item has been attached: Details from Risteárd Ua Cróinín and Martin Breen, The Castles and Tower-houses of Co. Clare (unpublished report). Uploaded courtesy of R. Ua Cróinín and M. Breen. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Ros Ó Maoldúin Date of upload: 28 April 2021