Gleansleade Castle (in ruins)

On a steep rise with a cliff-edge falling away to the W and NW, within a multiperiod field system (CL005-227004-). Indicated and named ‘Glensleade Castle (in ruins)’ on the 1842 and 1916 eds of the OS 6-inch maps. Apart from a short forfeiture to Edmond Barret in 1595, it belonged to the O’Loughlin clan from the late 16th century until the rebellion of 1641 (Ua Croinín and Breen 1997, 59). After the rebellion it passed to Comyns, Macnamaras and Ralph Wilson. It was likely dismantled by the Cromwellian commissioners c. 1654. A poorly surviving tower house of which only sections of the north wall (L 11m; H 3m; T 2m) survive, in which are the remains of a large, squared embrasure (H 1m; Wth 1.8m) under an arched vault, traces of a stairwell and two loops, one inwardly splaying into the large square embrasure and the other surviving only as a single jam above the stairwell. The outer face of the wall is defaced but dressed stone, some fine, survives on the S side around its features. Roof corbels project from either side of, and just above, the main embrasure and an almost buried stone arch is visible on the exterior W wall of the tower. Rubble mounds to the S of the surviving wall may conceal more in situ wall footings. The site is surrounded by a bawn (CL005-128002-). The following items have been uploaded: CL005-128001-_01.pdf Details from Risteárd Ua Cróinín and Martin Breen, The Castles and Tower-houses of Co. Clare (unpublished report).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: 5 April 2023

Gleansleade Castle was likely built in the 17th century by a local landholding family, though specific builders remain unidentified. Its importance lies in its historical presence on Ordnance Survey maps and its association with the broader landscape and defensive strategies of the period.